Finland is set to start preventive avian flu vaccinations next week for individuals in contact with animals, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare announced. The vaccine, authorized in the EU in April, targets the H5 subtype of avian flu. Finland has secured doses for 10,000 people. This move comes after severe outbreaks among minks and foxes on fur farms last year, highlighting the risk of human infection.
Preventive measures against avian flu
The Finnish government is taking proactive steps by vaccinating those at risk of infection due to their work or other circumstances. The H5N1 strain of avian flu, known for causing severe illness and fatalities in humans, has not yet been reported in Finland. However, its global impact on birds and mammals underscores the need for preventive measures.
Vaccine authorization and procurement
The avian flu vaccine received marketing authorization from the European Union in April and aims to curb the spread of the H5 virus. Finland has obtained enough doses to vaccinate 10,000 people, focusing on those in high-risk environments.
Impact on Finland’s fur farms
The decision to implement vaccinations is significantly influenced by Finland’s large number of fur farms. “The situation in Finland is quite different in that we have fur farms where animals can come into contact with wildlife,” said Hanna Nohynek, chief physician at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Last year’s outbreaks among minks and foxes led to the culling of approximately 485,000 animals to prevent the virus from spreading.
Finland’s vaccination program represents a crucial step in preventing the spread of avian flu from animals to humans. With no confirmed human cases in Finland yet, these preventive measures aim to protect both public health and the country’s fur farming industry.