Europe and Switzerland are taking the lead in the face of the threat of transmission of avian flu to humans. As several new cases have been reported in the United States, Mexico and Australia, health authorities have concluded contracts to reserve vaccines in the event of a pandemic.
The European Commission has already concluded a framework contract for the purchase of more than 600,000 doses from Seqirus, the only laboratory authorized to produce vaccines in Europe to fight against the human form of avian influenza caused by H5 strains.
The first doses would be primarily intended for those most at risk, such as poultry farmers and veterinarians. But we could increase to 40 million vaccines in the event of spread to the entire population.
A discreet contract from the OFSP
In Switzerland, the Federal Office of Public Health (OFSP) indicates that it also has a reservation contract with an industrial partner, without specifying the number of doses reserved or the name of the manufacturer.
The OFSP says it can ensure production capacities for a vaccine intended to protect the Swiss in the event of a pandemic.
No high risk, but due vigilance
The World Health Organization reported in early June a first case, in Mexico, of human deaths from avian flu due to the H5N2 strain, combined with other factors. But so far, no human-to-human spread has been reported across the world.
“Today, we do not have a high pandemic risk with regard to this strain since there is no human-to-human transmission,” reassures Antoine Flahaut, director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva, Tuesday in the 12:30 p.m. news of RTS.
“But we can fear that there could be one one day. We are not very far from it in terms of possible mutations. Vigilance is therefore required. This is why the authorities are taking the lead,” he explains.
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Sophie Iselin/jop
