Bird Flu: Two US vaccines are ready to ship if virus starts to infect humans, says health officials

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Amid the rising concerns about the virus and the whole chaos, federal health officials on Wednesday said that the US has two vaccines ready to ship within a week if the bird flu starts to infect humans. However, there is no evidence yet that proves the H5N1 virus has been spreading between people.

Bird flu is a virus that primarily affects birds but as per some reports, certain strains can even transmit to human beings as well. (Image: Pixabay)

New Delhi: The bird flu outbreak has sparked concerns across the globe and has encouraged individuals to take extra precautions to safeguard their health. Bird flu is a virus that primarily affects birds but as per some reports, certain strains can even transmit to human beings as well. The virus can even cause mild to severe respiratory diseases. Amid the rising concerns about the virus and the whole chaos, federal health officials on Wednesday said that the US has two vaccines ready to ship within a week if the bird flu starts to infect humans. However, there is no evidence yet that proves the H5N1 virus has been spreading between people.

Only, one such incident took place in Texas where one dairy worker did get infected after working closely with a cattle. On Wednesday, health officials in a briefing said that they were prepared for the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the bird flu.

As per NBC News report, the Department of Health and Human Services assistant secretary for preparedness, Dawn O'Connell confirmed that there are hundreds and thousands of prefilled vaccine syringes ready to ship in the event of a transmission.

Though there is no evidence available to show human-to-human transmission according to Connell, if the vaccines are required people would likely need to take two doses for adequate protection.

Complications of Bird flu infection

According to the Cleveland Clinic, bird flu can often cause serious diseases and complications like:

Pneumonia.

Acute respiratory distress.

Bacterial infections.

Sepsis.

Brain swelling, like meningoencephalitis.

Respiratory failure.

Ways to prevent bird flu

Wear a protective layer of cloth: It is always better to wear a protective layer like gloves, a mask or goggles while working on a farm or with birds

Maintain hygiene: It is better to maintain proper hygiene like washing hands frequently when one is working in a livestock or with animals.

Avoid working with exposed animals: It is better to not work with animals who are exposed to avian influenza to limit the outbreak.

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