A new clade of bird flu called 2.3.4.4b is mutating to infect more animals throughout Europe, according to multiple reports. The outbreak is mainly in birds but has also spread to cattle. Experts have warned that bird flu has pandemic potential. Dr Richard Pebody, director of emerging infections at the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'We clearly don't know when the next pandemic is going to be… but what we do know is that the flu pandemic is the most likely future pandemic. It's really critical that we ensure we're properly prepared.' He noted that four of the past five respiratory pandemics since 1918 have been due to flu, because flu is a virus that is constantly evolving and mutating and circulates widely in various animal species.
There have been 116 confirmed human cases of bird flu globally since 2024, according to major media reports. Almost all human cases were linked to close contact with infected animals.
We clearly don't know when the next pandemic is going to be… but what we do know is that the flu pandemic is the most likely future pandemic. It's really critical that we ensure we're properly prepared.
A UK government-backed trial is developing a new mRNA vaccine against bird flu, major media reported. The trial, using a vaccine developed by Moderna, will test on 3,000 Brits and 1,000 Americans. Poultry farmers will be encouraged to enroll in the trial to protect themselves. mRNA vaccines can be more rapidly mass produced than traditional vaccines, according to reports.
The turkey trial starts on Thursday and will last 24 weeks, using UK and EU-authorised vaccines. Vaccinating poultry against bird flu is not generally allowed in the UK. The trial was approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) regulator. Turkeys were selected due to high susceptibility and mortality rates during outbreaks. The trial will explore how bird flu vaccines might be integrated into the UK's disease control strategy and will generate data on vaccine efficacy. The UK HPAI vaccination taskforce published a report in July recommending a domestic field vaccination trial in turkeys. Baroness Hayman, biosecurity minister, said: 'We know what a terrible toll this disease has annually on our farmers and poultry sector.' She added: 'The start of new vaccine trials are a significant step forward in our fight against this disease and will contribute to global research efforts.' She expressed hope that vaccines can be used in the UK as an additional tool to control bird flu to protect the UK's biosecurity and food supply. Christine Middlemiss, UK chief veterinary officer, said: 'This targeted trial is going to be really key for our understanding of how HPAI vaccines can be effectively used for disease control in the UK.' She stressed that stringent biosecurity will always remain the best defence and urged all bird keepers to continue to take steps to prevent avian influenza spreading onto their premises.
Four of the past five respiratory pandemics over the past century since 1918 have been due to flu… because flu is a virus that is constantly evolving and mutating and it circulates widely in various animal species.
Annual bird flu outbreaks cost the UK Government and industry up to £174 million each year, according to major media reports. Similar trials are currently taking place in Italy and the Netherlands. The specific results of the human mRNA vaccine trial are not yet known, and it remains unclear whether the turkey trial will lead to widespread vaccination of poultry in the UK. The effectiveness of the vaccines being tested in the turkey trial has not been determined, and the timeline for potential approval of a bird flu vaccine for humans is uncertain.
We know what a terrible toll this disease has annually on our farmers and poultry sector.
The start of new vaccine trials are a significant step forward in our fight against this disease and will contribute to global research efforts.
We are hopeful vaccines can be used in the UK as an additional tool to control bird flu to protect the UK's biosecurity and food supply.
This targeted trial is going to be really key for our understanding of how HPAI vaccines can be effectively used for disease control in the UK.
Stringent biosecurity will always remain our best defence and urge all bird keepers to continue to take the steps needed to prevent avian influenza spreading onto their premises.