The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is launching a new research effort to combat the potential for human-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus H5N1 that is circulating among livestock in the U.S.
“The NIAID H5N1 research agenda builds on the Institute’s longstanding influenza research efforts,” a press statement from the agency said. “It addresses the current outbreak in U.S. dairy cows including potential human-to-human transmission of H5N1 influenza viruses.”
Public health officials in the U.S. began growing more concerned about the H5N1 bird flu in late March with the detection of the virus in dairy cattle in Texas. Since, the disease has spread to cattle herds in nine states, and three dairy workers have been infected.
The agency’s press release said that the virus has not yet mutated to allow for human-to-human transmission, but officials within the Department of Health and Human Services and at the National Institutes of Health are “closely monitoring the outbreak as part of overarching pandemic preparedness efforts.”
NIAID’s four-point research agenda is targeted toward understanding the way the virus infects both cows and humans as well as mapping the virus’s genetic sequence. These steps will enable scientists to better understand how the virus could evolve to have a wide effect on humans.
“Improving the understanding of the basic biology of the H5N1 virus will be crucial to developing promising strategies to prevent, detect, and treat the virus in the event of human-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus,” the agency’s research agenda said.
Leadership in HHS told reporters last week that their main concern is protecting dairy workers and others in the agricultural sector who work closely with livestock, including cows and poultry.
This includes increasing testing capacities for the virus as well as providing personal protective equipment. These efforts are being co-administered by the Department of Agriculture.
NIAID is also expanding research projects into human vaccines for H5N1 as well as antivirals and monoclonal antibody treatments.
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Both Pfizer and Moderna are competing for federal contracts for their mRNA bird flu vaccines to be included in the national stockpile. HHS officials last week declined to comment on to whom the vaccine would be given in the event of a widespread human outbreak.
“NIAID will leverage both its domestic and international research infrastructures to achieve the plan’s objectives,” the agency said in the press release.
