There is no vaccine for humans against avian flu. The vaccine against human influenza virus does not protect against avian flu.

Avian flu viruses do not usually infect humans. However, several cases of human infection with avian flu viruses have occurred since 1997. While it is unusual for people to get influenza infections directly from animals, sporadic human infections and outbreaks caused by certain avian influenza viruses and pig influenza viruses have been reported. These sporadic human infections and outbreaks, however, rarely result in sustained transmission among humans.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded two contracts to support the production and clinical testing of an investigational vaccine based on a strain of avian influenza, H5N1, which might have the potential to cause pandemic influenza.

Vaccines against the H5N1 avian flu currently occurring in SE Asia are under development. These are not the same as a pandemic vaccine ? if a pandemic were to emerge from this virus the virus may have changed to such an extent that this vaccine may not be appropriate.

There is not a flu vaccine (also know as a flu shot) against the current avian flu (H5N1) commercially available at this time. However, vaccines are produced each year for seasonal flu ("the flu") that may prevent the flu or lessen symptoms. University Health Services (UHS) schedules "flu shot clinics" during the fall. For more information please see, Flu Shot Update.

Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.

It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission so far.

The symptoms of avian flu in humans may be similar to those for the common seasonal flu but usually progress more aggressively and may also include:

Influenza vaccine cannot prevent avian influenza as the vaccine was meant for human influenza. However, the vaccine can help reduce the chance of complications and hospitalization from human influenza; hence it is recommended for the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses. Influenza vaccine can also reduce the chance of genetic re-assortment and subsequent emergence of influenza strain with pandemic potential.

present, there is no vaccine providing protection against avian influenza. As a precaution, the WHO has taken steps [introduced procedures] for rapid production of a new vaccine. However, people extensively exposed to poultry infected with the H5N1 strain should be innoculated with the existing vaccines. These are effective against human influenza viruses, and may reduce the likelihood of genetic material being exchanged with avian influenza viruses.

Currently, the government is monitoring the situation. A number of control measures will be immediately implemented in the event of the disease being suspected in flocks of poultry or tamed birds. Detailed information and advice can be found on the Surrey County Council Trading Standards web pages and on the following websites: Department of Health, Health Protection Agency, DEFRA, NHS Direct and the National Farmers Union (NFU)

To date, the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus has resulted in the deaths of millions of domestic birds. Despite the millions of people who have had close contact with domestic fowl during the past 10 years in Asia, just over 325 people have been infected worldwide. This is an extremely low rate of infection. However, human health officials are concerned with the greater than 50 percent mortality rate of people that have been infected.

Humans can get avian flu from direct contact with infected birds or objects contaminated by the infected bird's feces (droppings). The most likely way to catch the avian flu is during killing, defeathering, and preparing infected poultry for cooking.

Avian influenza rarely causes disease in humans. The mechanism of transmission from birds to humans is poorly understood. Transmission to humans may possibly occur via direct contact with the excrement of contaminated poultry or birds. As yet, there is no evidence of transmission from one human to another. Vietnam and Thailand have reported human cases of infection with the H5N1 virus. There have been no human cases of H5N1 infection in Québec or Canada.

Vaccines against the H5N1 avian virus currently occurring in SE Asia are under development. These are not the same asa pandemic vaccine - if a pandemic were to emerge from this virus the virus mayhave changed to such an extent that this vaccine may not be appropriate.

There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect humans against the H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place. Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005, and a series of clinical trials is underway. For more information about the H5N1 vaccine development process, visit the National Institutes of Health Web site.

Answer: Not yet. It is possible that a vaccine using the H5N1 strain of influenza may give partial protection if that strain changes and spreads more easily among humans. Prototypes of an H5N1 vaccine are being developed by several manufacturers around the world, including Australia’s domestic manufacturer, CSL Limited. The government is committed to buying a substantial amount of H5N1 vaccine as soon as it is proven safe and effective (see Section 3.

To date, the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus has resulted in the deaths of millions of domestic birds. Despite the millions of people who have had close contact with domestic fowl during the past nine years in Asia, more than 320 people have been infected worldwide. This is an extremely low rate of infection. However, human health officials are concerned with the 61 percent mortality rate of people that have been infected.

Symptoms of avian (bird) flu have ranged from flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, breathing problems, and other life-threatening ailments.

The reported symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections (conjunctivitis), pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.

Avian influenza viruses circulate among birds worldwide. In addition to the large outbreaks in birds that have occurred in several countries in Asia, smaller outbreaks have been reported in British Columbia, Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, and other locations in North America. It is rare in humans. To date, a number of subtypes (including H5N1, H7N7, H9N2) of the avian influenza virus have been known to cause illness in people, with H5N1 associated with the most serious illness in humans.

Avian flu or “bird flu” normally infects birds, although these bird strains can sometimes infect small numbers of humans who come in close contact with them. Sometimes – not always – these bird strains can become more easily transmitted to people. If that happens, and the strain changes enough to become easily transmissible between people, it can result in a pandemic – a global circulation of a strain that really hasn’t been seen in people before.

Scientists are working on a vaccine, but creating an effective vaccine is difficult. To spread to a pandemic type of flu, the H5N1 virus that is infecting people now would have to mutate. Once it mutates, any vaccine created specifically for H5N1 may no longer be effective. So creating a vaccine based on the current H5N1 strain is of limited use. Also, vaccines take several months to create. Once an outbreak occurs, a vaccine may not be created in time to be of use.