The rapid spread and mutations of the deadly avian influenza virus in the United States ensure urgent global action on pandemic preparation to bridge the dangerous gap in the world’s ability to develop and supply new protective vaccines.
In a letter to the Science Journal, Dr. Nicole Lurie, executive director of CEPI preparation and response, and six other experts, known as H5N1 and known to be extremely serious in some human cases, the avian influenza virus has recently crossed species to mammals from dairy cows to dairy cows, and has now caused space exposure and sporespore infections. At least one person died from H5N1 infection in the US, and the Canadian teenager suffered a serious illness before he finally recovered.
“Pandemic preparation initiatives should be urgently resourced and implemented,” they write. “Intensifying preparations now can save lives and reduce social and economic disruptions when H5N1 or another outbreak becomes a pandemic.”
H5N1 avian influenza has infected nearly 70 people in the US since April 2024, one of which has passed away. Since its outbreak in poultry in 2022, it has affected more than 165 million chickens, turkeys and other birds in almost every state, and has been detected in more than 970 flocks of cows and dairy cows in 17 states. The virus has recently been detected in many other species of mammals in many parts of the world, including seals, mice, goats and domestic cats.
As a result of the spread of the virus, many scientists have warned that the risk of H5N1 mutations increases, leading to more severe human infections.
The letter’s authors also include Rebecca Katz, Lawrence Gostin, Jesse Goodman, all professors and global health specialists at Georgetown University in the United States, and Rick Bright, current advisor to CEPI and a member of CEPI’s Scientific Advisory Committee.
The authors warned that global supply of effective H5N1 influenza vaccines available in a short time frame is extremely challenging and is being hampered by manufacturers who must use currently approved technologies such as egg-based vaccines.
The process for developing new, updated H5N1 vaccines using rapid response technology has also been slowed down by the need for time-consuming efficacy testing, and many national drug regulators are unable to carry out assessments of pandemic vaccines quickly enough for vaccination campaigns ahead of the threat.
“Vaccination programs are complex and there is a demand for advance planning,” they write.
Experts have outlined three important initiatives that should begin in preparation for the wider human outbreak of H5N1. Health officials need to establish programs for industry, government, regulators and scientific communities to quickly develop scalable pandemic influenza vaccines, tests and treatments. A comprehensive public communications programme should be launched to address misinformation and hesitations about vaccines. And governments need to transparently stress test their pandemic response plans to address a variety of disease scenarios and vaccination strategies.
