What's Being Done About Bird Flu?
We're hearing about how it's only a matter of time before a world-wide pandemic of flu hits, killing perhaps hundreds of thousands of people. The flu virus, which lives in birds, has recently infected humans handling the birds (mainly chickens) in Asia and eastern Europe. The number of deaths from this bird or avian flu is rising as the flu spreads westward. But the real concern is that the flu virus may mutate (as flu viruses often do) into a strain that is passed easily from human to human, rather than just from birds to humans who are in close contact with the birds. If that were to happen, what could be done? The same thing we do whenever we have a reason to believe a virus or other infectious pest is on the way: we vaccinate.
Not only are vaccines being developed against the type of bird flu that is most prevalent, they are already being tested in humans. One of the institutions testing a vaccine is the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore. 70 healthy participants are being recruited to receive the vaccine in a nasal spray. The volunteer participants will stay in the hospital for observation and to have blood samples and nasal washes collected daily for at least two weeks from the day on which they receive the vaccine. This is what is known as a Phase I study, which looks primarily at the safety of the treatment (in this case, the vaccine), but also looks at how well the vaccine works. Bad reactions to the vaccine will be monitored (and treated, of course), and measurements will be taken to see how much immunity to the flu virus is generated in each participant.
Results of this clinical trial will tell us whether or not this particular vaccine is worth testing further as a safe way of protecting people against a flu outbreak. If results are promising, then the next phase of clinical trials (Phase II) will involve larger numbers of participants and will focus more on whether the vaccine actually protects individuals who are exposed to the flu from getting sick. Yes – that means participants will be vaccinated, then they will be exposed to the flu and observed to see whether or not they become ill.
It all takes time, money, medical and scientific expertise, and volunteer participants... Damn birds.
-Joe
Related Topics: Special Report: Bird Flu, Avian Flu in Vietnam
Not only are vaccines being developed against the type of bird flu that is most prevalent, they are already being tested in humans. One of the institutions testing a vaccine is the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore. 70 healthy participants are being recruited to receive the vaccine in a nasal spray. The volunteer participants will stay in the hospital for observation and to have blood samples and nasal washes collected daily for at least two weeks from the day on which they receive the vaccine. This is what is known as a Phase I study, which looks primarily at the safety of the treatment (in this case, the vaccine), but also looks at how well the vaccine works. Bad reactions to the vaccine will be monitored (and treated, of course), and measurements will be taken to see how much immunity to the flu virus is generated in each participant.
Results of this clinical trial will tell us whether or not this particular vaccine is worth testing further as a safe way of protecting people against a flu outbreak. If results are promising, then the next phase of clinical trials (Phase II) will involve larger numbers of participants and will focus more on whether the vaccine actually protects individuals who are exposed to the flu from getting sick. Yes – that means participants will be vaccinated, then they will be exposed to the flu and observed to see whether or not they become ill.
It all takes time, money, medical and scientific expertise, and volunteer participants... Damn birds.
-Joe
Related Topics: Special Report: Bird Flu, Avian Flu in Vietnam
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