Scientists in the US tested mRNA vaccines for bird flu

A bird flu outbreak in dairy cows in the U.S. is prompting the development of new next-generation mRNA vaccines being tested in animals and people. Similar to the technology used in vaccines against Covid-19. Information from Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin testing a vaccine developed by University of Pennsylvania researchers on calves.

The idea is that if vaccinating cows protects rural workers, the virus is less likely to infect populations and mutate to infect more people.

Avian flu virus has been circulating among more animal species in dozens of countries since 2020.

This week, the United States Department of Agriculture announced that it has been found in alpacas, a mammal species, for the first time.

At least 3,000 workers on farms with infected cattle were diagnosed with bird flu, although the illnesses were considered mild. But earlier versions of the same H5N1 flu virus were more dangerous to humans in other parts of the world.