Avian influenza USA make arrangements against virus

US is preparing for a possible bird flu pandemic

06/13/2013

The US is taking precautions against a potential bird flu pandemic. It identifies potential vaccine candidates and reviews the production capacity needed to prepare for H7N9 virus proliferation. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued guidelines on how to manage possible bird flu infections for physicians and health care providers in the United States. A special bulletin informs travelers to China about possible risks of H7N9 bird flu infections.

According to the latest figures from Chinese health authorities, 131 people in China have been infected with the bird flu virus H7N9. 39 patients died as a result of the infection. Fears of a possible pandemic have also grown with the emergence of the first diseases of the H7N9 virus outside of China, and some countries, such as the USA, are increasingly preparing for emergencies. According to the CDC, this includes, if in doubt, the development and stockpiling of a suitable vaccine. However, most of the problems that can arise from a hasty response to a feared pandemic are reminiscent of the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Here, millions of doses of the controversial vaccine were stored in order to build in the event of an emergency adequate vaccination in the population. However, faced with the side effects of the vaccine, most people decided against a swine flu vaccine and, in the end, most of the vaccine doses held in Germany had to be destroyed.

Stockpiling an avian influenza vaccine
Whether the preliminary production and stockpiling of a vaccine against the H7N9 avian influenza viruses makes sense, is currently under review by the US health authorities. At present, sufficient vaccine doses for the first clinical trials are being produced, which should start in August. Subsequently, a decision on the possible stockpiling is expected. First of all, however, the production capacities, timelines and costs have to be checked. The urgent need for a vaccine also depends on the further development of avian influenza agents, according to the US Health Authorities. At present, it is to be assumed that a large proportion of the patients who had severe bird flu symptoms probably got infected with direct contact with poultry. However, it has been proven that some individuals have no contact with poultry, so at least human-to-human transmission should be considered.

Threatening avian flu pandemic?
The interpersonal danger of infection is according to the CDC with the current variant of the bird flu virus still small, but this could change rapidly with a possible mutation of the exciters. „Influenza viruses are constantly changing and it is possible that this virus is capable of spreading easily and sustainably between humans, which could trigger a pandemic“, reports the US Department of Health. Therefore, appropriate precautionary measures have already been put in place to deal with an avian flu pandemic. (Fp)

Picture: Aka