If France faces a significant increase in avian influenza animals and serious human cases in contact with infected animals, the vaccination of people exposed to the virus will be necessary, recommended on Tuesday, April 8, the high authority for health (HA).
Although he considers it “impossible, at this stage, predict precisely the evolution of the virus,” has seized it for the Ministry of Health, “recommends vaccination with the zoonotic influenza vaccine (H5N8) in case of an increase in animal foci, despite barrier measures in place and in the presence of serious human cases.”
According to her, this situation would require “protecting the exposed people”, thanks to two three -week spaces for the vaccine. “The Seqirus laboratory, the only ones that benefit from a marketing authorization in Europe, protect against the stumps of the H5N1 influenza virus that circulates in the world.
“Avoid the development of severe ways”
On the other hand, the detection of a single human case of influenza in the territory, indigenous or imported, does not justify a prepared vaccination, judges the ha, which define several scenarios.
“The objective of vaccination is above all to avoid the development of severe ways in case of contamination and, potentially, reduce the risk of human pollution by animals,” explains authority.
In the planned scenario, he has recommended vaccinating several categories: Corral bird breeders (and cattle, if necessary), technical personnel of veterinary diagnostic and research labor, laboratory staff that manipulate the virus for the investigation of human cases, technicians and veterans of poultry, personnel who carry out emergencies, equal.
These recommendations correspond to “a prepared context”, underlines the ha and “are likely to be reviewed according to the evolution of the health situation”, especially in other countries.
The dissemination of avian flu in the United States, among poultry farms but also cattle, has increased the fear of a similar phenomenon in France, while the country has been unscathed for several weeks thanks to duck vaccination.
In early February, the health authorities said they were “completely mobilized” in the American situation, marked in particular by 70 cases of transmission to man, including death. Other human cases have been identified in the world, including one in Mexico a few days ago and one in Europe in early 2025. To date, no transmission between humans has been recorded.
Source: BFM TV
