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H5N1 In US: Department Of Health Speeds Up Development Of New Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Pandemic Scare


Published on 2025-01-19 02:42:12 - MSN
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  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed a major $590 million investment in Moderna to accelerate the development of a bird flu vaccine.

The U.S. is accelerating the development of a new bird flu vaccine due to concerns over a potential global health crisis. This urgency stems from the recent spread of the H5N1 virus among dairy cows in several states, marking the first time the virus has been detected in cattle. Although the risk to humans remains low, with only one mild human case reported, the situation has raised alarms about the virus's potential to mutate and become more transmissible among humans. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has initiated trials on a vaccine specifically targeting this strain, aiming to have it ready for emergency use if necessary. This proactive approach is part of a broader strategy to prevent another devastating outbreak like the one caused by the H1N1 virus in 2009. The development process includes testing the vaccine's effectiveness in chickens, with plans to extend trials to other animals like pigs and ferrets, which are better models for human infection.

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[ https://www.msn.com/en-in/science/biology/us-speeds-up-development-of-new-bird-flu-vaccine-amid-pandemic-scare/ar-AA1xqKjN ]