European Scientists Develop First Vaccine for H7N1 Avian Influenza Strain
Philip Tod, spokesperson for the European Union, announced yesterday that experts from the UK, Italy, France, and Norway have developed a vaccine for the H7N1 avian influenza strain, which has the potential to spread from birds to humans.
“The risk of H7 being considered a pandemic influenza strain is viewed as lower compared to H5N1. However, researching the development of an H7N1 avian influenza vaccine will be beneficial for creating this vaccine in the future should a flu pandemic occur,” he stated.
While the H5N1 strain has caused at least 62 human deaths since 2003, the H7N1 virus also poses a deadly risk. This virus led to deadly outbreaks in poultry in Italy in 1999 and is linked to the H7N7 avian influenza virus in the Netherlands, which resulted in the culling of approximately 25 million birds.
According to the European Council, initial trials of the H7N1 vaccine are set to take place next spring.
T.VY
