Bird flu: that’s why researchers are preparing pandemic vaccines

While the world is still recovering from the latest global health crisis – the coronavirus pandemic – researchers are watching with concern another virus: influenza A(H5N1). Over the past two years, this has led to massive outbreaks of bird flu.

The pathogen mainly affects birds, but has also been found in various mammals. In South America, thousands of seals and sea lions have already fallen victim to the virus. About a month ago, two cases were also recorded among gentoo penguins on the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. Now the bird flu virus has reached the Antarctic mainland for the first time and is affecting entire penguin colonies there.

And the virus is also rampant in Germany: the Cologne zoo only had to close temporarily in mid-February because the contagious disease had broken out in several animals.

According to experts, there is a risk that this virus subtype will adapt to humans and cause a new pandemic. Preparations have now been made for this possibility.

The European Medicines Agency Ema has recommended for approval two bird flu vaccines intended to protect against influenza A(H5N1). The active ingredients Celldemic and Incellipan both come from the pharmaceutical company Seqirus.

Although Celldemic will be used in the future if a potential pandemic is anticipated, Incellipan should only be approved “conditionally” and only be accelerated and used after a pandemic has been officially declared with the appropriate antigen.

Both vaccines are adjuvanted protein vaccines, meaning they contain an adjuvant that stimulates the immune system to respond more strongly to the vaccine. This increases its effectiveness and improves protection against the virus. According to Ema, the vaccine leads to a robust immune response three weeks after administration of two doses.

If the two vaccines are actually approved by the European Commission, it would not be the first time that pandemic vaccines against bird flu have been approved. When they can actually be used remains an open question. According to the RKI recommendations, vaccination against the influenza virus A(H5N1) is currently not part of the prevention measures for people at risk.

The first symptoms appear about two to five days after infection. The main symptoms of the disease include:

As the infection progresses, pneumonia often develops, which if left untreated can lead to lung failure and death. However, typical symptoms of normal flu (influenza), such as a runny nose, sore throat, headache and body aches, do not occur regularly.

(t-online/dsc)