Why Finland will get world’s first bird flu vaccination for humans even though it has no cases

In a world first, Finland is set to roll out bird flu vaccinations for humans next week, targeting workers who are most exposed to animals. This proactive measure involves vaccinating 10,000 individuals, each receiving two doses, as part of a broader EU effort that includes up to 40 million doses across 15 countries.

CSL Seqirus, the Australian pharmaceutical company behind the vaccines, confirmed to Reuters that Finland will be the first to launch this vaccination strategy. “The vaccine will be offered to those aged 18 or over who are at increased risk of contracting avian influenza due to their work or other circumstances,” announced the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

Although the Nordic country has not yet detected any human cases of the virus, this preemptive approach is part of the country’s efforts to safeguard its population and mitigate bird flu risks, especially from its fur farms.

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From birds to cattle to humans

Bird flu, formally known as avian influenza, encompasses various influenza type A viruses that primarily affect birds but can also infect non-avian species, including humans.

Among the many strains, H5N1 is a significant one that has been circulating among wild birds worldwide.

Birds transmit the virus through their saliva, mucus, and faeces, posing a risk to people and animals in close, unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.

In a surprising development in March, H5N1 strain rapidly spread through dairy cow herds in the United States, and was described by the CDC as an “ongoing multi-state outbreak.” The US Department of Agriculture reported infections in 101 dairy herds across 12 states, with several cases also found in dairy workers.

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This transmission to cattle surprised scientists, who previously believed cows were not susceptible to the virus.

Beyond cattle, the H5N1 outbreak also severely impacted poultry. According to the CDC, over 97 million poultry have been affected by the virus as of June 20, causing widespread devastation in the industry.

How prevalent is bird flu in humans?

There have been cases of humans catching H5N1 from time to time in several countries, including Cambodia, Chile, China, Vietnam, Australia, US, and the UK.

Earlier this year, when H5N1 spread to US cow herds, several dairy workers were found infected, though their symptoms were mild.

Generally, humans contract bird flu through direct contact with infected animals or their byproducts, such as carcasses, saliva, or faeces. The virus is also airborne, meaning inhaling near an infected animal can lead to infection.

A notable case surfaced in May involved a 59-year-old man in Mexico who died from H5N2, a bird flu strain never before recorded in humans. The source of his infection remains unclear. Professor Sir Peter Horby, director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford, told the BBC, “This case is one more in a series of developments that collectively could be considered a red flag.”

Although there’s no evidence it virus can morph into a form that would pose a big threat to humans, two eminent flu experts warned in an article in the British Medical Journal: “the hazard and risk of a major outbreak of H5N1 are large, plausible and imminent.”

Finland’s preemptive strike

Last year, Finland experienced significant bird flu outbreaks on mink and fox fur farms, particularly those that are open-air. These outbreaks led to the culling of approximately 485,000 animals to control the virus. The virus also caused the deaths of thousands of seagulls and other bird species, threatened livestock, and resulted in travel restrictions in some areas.

“Mink is an especially problematic species when it comes to avian influenza infections,” a THL representative told Reuters, noting that mink can serve as an effective intermediate host, allowing the virus to mutate into forms more likely to infect humans.

Finnish authorities have identified several high-risk groups for vaccination: workers at fur and poultry farms, lab technicians handling bird flu samples, veterinarians working as animal control officers in fur farm regions, and people working in sanctuaries, livestock farms, or processing plants for animal by-products.

Vaccinations are expected to begin as early as next week in parts of the country. A THL spokesperson mentioned to Reuters that if a human infection of bird flu occurs, close contacts of suspected or confirmed cases will also be offered the vaccine.

With input from agencies