New Delhi: H5N1 virus or avian influenza have been reported in four states in India, this has prompted the central government to issue an advisory on avian influenza urging the administrations of these states and Union Territory (UT) to keep a check for any unusual deaths among birds or poultry. Bird outbreaks have not only been reported in India but also in the US, amid this, researchers have been working on the development of new and next-generation mRNA vaccines which are similar to COVID-19 shots that are being tested in both the animals and human beings.
The U.S. Agriculture Department is going to start the testing of a vaccine in the coming month. The vaccine is being developed by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania. The vaccines will be first tested on the calves. As per the report, the idea behind it is that if vaccinating the cows protects dairy workers that could mean there is less chance for the virus to jump into people and mutate in ways that could lead to human transmission.
On the other hand, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been talking to manufacturers about the possible mRNA flu vaccines for people, as a supplement to millions of bird flu vaccine doses that the government already has.
Traditional vaccines for flu
Most flu vaccines are made through an egg-based manufacturing procedure that has been used for over 70 years. The process involves injecting a candidate virus into fertilised chicken eggs, which hatch for several days to allow the viruses to grow. The fluid harvested from the eggs is used as the basis for the vaccines, with killed or weak viruses instructing the body’s immune system.
According to officials, they already have two candidates for vaccines for people who appear to be well-matched to the bird flu virus in the U.S. dairy herds. The officials also noted that they have bulk antigens through which they can generate 10 million doses of vaccines. The vaccines are made using a small section of genetic material from the virus and the genetic blueprint is designed to detect the body how to make a protein used to build immunity.
Researchers in the U.S. have been working on the development of new and next-generation mRNA vaccines which are similar to COVID-19 shots that are being tested in both the animals and human beings. Health Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
