(NEWSnet/AP) — Bird flu cases in U.S. dairy cows are prompting development of next-generation mRNA vaccines that are being tested in both animals and people.
In June, U.S. Agriculture Department will begin testing a vaccine developed University of Pennsylvania researchers, by giving it to calves.
The concept: If vaccinating cows protects dairy workers, that could mean fewer chances for the virus to jump to people and mutate.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has connecting with manufacturers about possible mRNA flu vaccines for people that could supplement millions of bird flu vaccine doses already in government hands.
“If there’s a pandemic, there’s going to be a huge demand for vaccine,” said Richard Webby, a flu researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. “The more different (vaccine manufacturing) platforms that can respond to that, the better.”
At least three people, all workers at farms with infected cows, have been diagnosed with H5N1, although the illnesses have been considered mild.
The bird flu virus has been spreading among more animal species since 2020. It was detected in dairy herds in March.
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