The World Health Organization has reported over 950 cases of avian influenza worldwide since 1997, with more than half of them fatal. The H5N1 virus has spread from wild birds to mammals, including sea lions and minks. Genetic analysis shows that the virus is adapting to infect and spread among mammals.
Researchers have been developing preventive strategies such as vaccines and protective antibodies. A study reveals that a broadly neutralizing antibody called MEDI8852 protects monkeys against severe illness and death, establishing the minimum dose necessary for protection. Blood levels of this antibody remain stable for weeks, suggesting long-lasting protection.
The treatment, tested in monkeys, is described in the journal Science and has been developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and the U.S. Vaccine Research Center. This antibody is less likely to lose effectiveness, which could provide long-lasting protection against potential variants of the virus.
Douglas Reed, associate professor of immunology at the University of Pittsburgh, mentioned that this type of prevention could be crucial for controlling infectious outbreaks and containing the avian influenza pandemic. To date, only one case of H5N1 infection has been reported in the U.S.
