PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Blood tests show “there is extremely low to no population immunity” among Americans to the H5N1 avian flu virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Most of the population would be vulnerable if the virus mutated to become more readily contagious, said the CDC, but it has identified two candidate vaccines that would offer “good cross-protection” against it.
While vaccinations for seasonal varieties of human flu have been shown as ineffective protection from bird flu, two candidate vaccines have been identified that would offer good protection. The Department of Health and Human Services has ordered 4.8 million doses of vaccine as a precaution but says it has no plans at present to use them.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture reported that H5N1 bird flu was confirmed in 102 dairy herds, up from 94 herds at the end of last week. Outbreaks have been identified in 12 states, from Idaho to North Carolina. Michigan has the most, with 25.
Federal officials said the bird flu risk to the general population is low. Three farmworkers contracted mild cases of bird flu since April 1. To date, more than 550 people have been monitored for bird flu as a result of exposure to infected or potentially infected animals, and at least 45 people have been tested for the H5N1 virus after developing flu-like symptoms, said the CDC.