It seems to be widespread these days. Other animals on farms, such as cats or birds, are also infected, as are some humans. The expansion of the host spectrum to animals that have a lot of contact with humans makes the current H5N1 outbreak even more dangerous.
Richard Neher of the University of Basel
Prevention is the best medicine
In the face of the spread of avian influenza virus among livestock in the United States of America, a group of 15 European countries preemptively ordered 665 thousand doses of vaccine against H5 viruses. The European Union Public Procurement Authority signed the contract with the British pharmaceutical company Siqueros, and the first doses of the vaccine will be allocated to workers on poultry farms in Finland.
Under the contract, vaccine deliveries could be expanded by up to 40 million additional doses over the next four years.
Epidemics will continue to exist. You can’t predict the future, but you can prepare, says Salmanton Garcia.
My biggest concern right now is that we’re forgetting what we’ve been taught: to wash our hands well, not to have close contact with strangers, and to stifle our coughs with our elbows instead of our hands. In this way we play an active role in the fight against infection.
John Salmanton Garcia
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
