São Paulo – Instituto Butantan (pictured) has begun developing a vaccine against bird flu. Examinations are being conducted with vaccine strains provided by the World Health Organization (WTO), and the first batch is ready to start pre-clinical examinations, that is, laboratory examinations.
Butantan reported that the vaccine began development due to fears that it could become a new pandemic. “Bird flu has the potential to cause a new pandemic, hence the foundation’s mobilization that began last January,” the institute said in a statement.
The vaccine development process takes a long time and is carried out in several stages. After the preclinical tests, which will prove the safety and potential of the vaccine, clinical tests are carried out on humans, which is the longest stage. In the clinical phase, which requires authorization from Brazilian health regulator Anvisa, the safety, effectiveness and efficacy of the vaccine are analyzed. If the vaccine performs well in the clinical phase, it is submitted to Anvisa for registration and only then can it be applied to the population.
Avian influenza (H1N5), also known as bird flu, is a viral disease. Transmission of the disease occurs through contact with living or dead sick birds. The virus does not infect humans easily, but a recent rise in cases has health authorities around the world on high alert. In humans, avian influenza can be severe with a high mortality rate.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), infection with this virus in humans has been uncommon. But whenever the bird flu virus spreads among birds, there is a risk of sporadic human cases. The bird flu has been detected in wild animals in Brazil but hasn’t been reported in poultry farming.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
