Diseases - Protection against bird flu: how well is Germany prepared?
At least since Corona, "pandemic" has become a buzzword. Correspondingly, there is currently high attention for the avian influenza virus H5N1, which virologists Christian Drosten and others consider a potential pandemic candidate. In the case of an outbreak in humans, Germany would likely be better prepared than during Corona. Here's what you need to know:
Why is everyone talking about the "bird flu" now?
The virus H5N1 has affected birds for decades - initially in Asia, now nearly worldwide. Animals other than birds have also been infected. A particular group of H5N1 viruses, known as clade 2.3.4.4b, has been spreading for several years. In the US, numerous cattle have been infected with this clade. Cattle infected with H5N1 have not been reported before. It is still unclear how the transmission from wild birds to a cow occurred. However, it is known that several people have been infected by these infected cattle in the US. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported four such cases by mid-year in the context of the outbreak in US livestock farming.
What does that mean for people in Germany?
Infektiologist Leif Erik Sander of the Berlin Charité currently sees no reason for concern for the general population in Germany. H5N1-infected cattle have only been reported in the US. The virus has not been detected in chickens or milk in Germany. The World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the risk to public health for the general population as low.
However, Sander considers the infection of cattle to be concerning because the virus can spread in a large population of animals used by humans. One of the greatest concerns is that the virus will continue to adapt. "If the virus spreads strongly in a species, the concern is that it can adapt to other livestock or mix with other influenza viruses. This would make it possible for it to infect humans more strongly and potentially also transmit from person to person."
Are there vaccines?
The vaccine situation is different from Corona, where a prototype had to be developed first. For several companies, the development of vaccines against new influenza virus strains is routine, as they also produce seasonal influenza vaccines twice a year, as a spokesperson for the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (VFA) explained. One is needed for the Southern and one for the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth. The avian influenza virus H5N1 is, like the seasonal influenza, an Influenza-A virus. According to the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, several H5N1 vaccines are licensed in the European Union. These are either produced using hen's eggs or through the cultivation of viruses on cell culture, just like seasonal influenza vaccines.
The EU recently secured 665,000 doses of the manufacturer CSL Seqirus against the transmission of avian influenza from animals to humans for several member states. Germany is not currently participating.
How quickly would a vaccine be available?
In the event of a bird flu pandemic in Germany, vaccines for humans could be made available rapidly, believes Sander. "We have vaccines that have been approved which can be rapidly adapted in the moment that a virus triggers a pandemic." However, production capacity would have to be significantly increased for this. There are prepandemic vaccines or prototype vaccines that are essentially ready but have not yet been adapted to the new clade of H5N1 viruses. This adaptation can be done quickly, according to the Charité Professor.
For cattle, new vaccines would have to be tested completely. "This should happen now." Theoretically, the same vaccine could be used for cattle and humans, says Sander. However, there are usually different manufacturers for human and veterinary medical vaccines.
What are the new developments?
According to VFA statements, several companies are developing new influenza vaccines based on mRNA technology - the technology that was also used in Covid-19 vaccines. These include the US company Moderna and the Tübingen biotech company Curevac in collaboration with the biopharmaceutical company GSK. The second phase of clinical testing for the avian flu vaccine should start as soon as possible, according to Curevac spokesperson Patrick Perez. The further development will be taken over by GSK. For approval, three clinical phases are usually required.
This is a prepandemic vaccine, explained Perez. The principle is based on developing a vaccine as far as possible before an outbreak occurs, so that it can be quickly licensed and made available in the event of a pandemic without having to produce and store it if it may never be needed. "This offers the advantage of being able to react very quickly in the event of a pandemic without having to license, produce, and store a vaccine that may never be used."
The Moderna candidate is also in clinical testing, according to Moderna. "We expect preliminary results from these studies in the course of the year. If these results are positive, the vaccine candidate will enter phase-3 development," the company stated.
Is vaccination meaningful now?
"There is currently no reason to actively vaccinate people," said Sander and added: "It's not about spreading fear that a pandemic is imminent. We should do everything to be prepared." For whom vaccination is an option depends entirely on the scenario. If there are larger outbreaks in livestock in Germany, it could be considered to vaccinate the employees of the farms preventively. In his opinion, it would be particularly interesting to have vaccines for animals.
In Finland, people from certain risk groups are already being vaccinated against bird flu. According to the national health authority THL, the doses will first be offered to adults with increased infection risk, such as those who work on fur farms or poultry farms, veterinarians, or those involved in the disposal of sick animals or other animals. In Finland, there have been several outbreaks of bird flu on mink farms.
- The current high attention towards the avian influenza virus H5N1 is due to its potential as a pandemic candidate, a view shared by virologists like Christian Drosten.
- Despite the global spread of H5N1, affecting birds initially in Asia and now nearly worldwide, there have been no reports of H5N1-infected cattle in Germany.
- Leif Erik Sander, an infectious disease specialist at Berlin Charité, emphasizes the concern of the H5N1 virus spreading in large animal populations used by humans, as it could potentially adapt to other livestock or mix with other influenza viruses.
- Unlike the Corona pandemic, where a prototype vaccine had to be developed, the development of vaccines against new influenza virus strains, such as H5N1, is a routine process for several companies.
- The European Union has secured 665,000 doses of H5N1 vaccine from CSL Seqirus for several member states, but Germany is not currently participating.
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported four human cases of H5N1 infection in the context of the US livestock farming outbreak by mid-year.
- The Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (VFA) reported that vaccines for new influenza virus strains are a regular part of company practices because they also produce seasonal influenza vaccines twice a year.
- Curevac, a biotech company in Tübingen, is developing a new avian flu vaccine based on mRNA technology, collaborating with biopharmaceutical company GSK, and is already planning for the second phase of clinical testing.
- The Moderna candidate avian flu vaccine is also in clinical testing, with expectations to enter phase-3 development if preliminary results are positive.
- Vaccination is not currently recommended for people, but experts like Sander believe in being prepared for any potential outbreak by having vaccines that can be rapidly adapted if a pandemic trigger word is identified.
- In Finland, people from certain risk groups such as those who work on fur farms or poultry farms, veterinarians, or those involved in disposing of sick animals, are already being vaccinated against bird flu due to several outbreaks on mink farms.
