Despite its virulence, H5N1 avian influenza doesn’t pose an imminent threat to human health, but a few strategic mutations could change that, and the virus has devastated poultry farms and wild bird populations and killed wild mammals. Scientists are studying new vaccines for poultry and considering the best ways to protect wild birds. Meanwhile, the US has egg-based H5N1 vaccines stockpiled, CSL Seqirus has been working with HHS on alternatives, and researchers are also working on messenger RNA-based vaccines.
