US announces new funds for mRNA vaccines, fast tracks bird flu tests

In all, 67 people in the United States have been infected with avian influenza since the outbreak began last year, including an elderly man who died in Louisiana this month.

While the virus has not conclusively been found to spread from person to person, the amount of bird flu circulating among animals and humans has alarmed scientists, because it might combine with seasonal influenza and mutate into a more transmissible form -- potentially triggering a deadly pandemic.

"This latest intended investment illustrates the Biden-Harris Administration's robust response to emerging disease threats such as avian influenza," said health secretary Xavier Becerra.

Companies including Moderna and Pfizer are working on mRNA vaccines for bird flu. This technology trains the body's immune system using genetic instructions, an approach proven highly effective against Covid. Moderna received $176 million for this effort in July 2024.

The United States also maintains a stockpile of millions of H5N1 vaccine doses based on traditional methods, targeting earlier virus strains but expected to offer solid protection if needed, experts say.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that all positive influenza A tests, especially from hospitalized patients, will be fast-tracked for further testing to check for H5N1.

"H5N1 is a subtype of influenza A," said Nirav Shah, a senior CDC official. Subtyping determines whether the virus is a common seasonal strain or a novel version like H5N1, he explained.

Such testing should ideally be completed within 24 hours, he added, to help researchers understand how the infection occurred, identify potential exposures, and protect health workers.

Until the Louisiana fatality, US cases had been relatively mild. Globally, however, nearly half of the 954 human H5N1 infections recorded since 2003 have been fatal, according to the World Health Organization.

Concerns have also been raised about incoming President Donald Trump's pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of vaccines, especially mRNA technology -- widely regarded as a key tool against future pandemics.

He is also a known fan of raw milk, which has repeatedly been found to be contaminated with bird flu from infected dairy cows.