{"id":456530,"date":"2026-04-27T17:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T17:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/456530\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T17:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T17:40:14","slug":"global-virus-network-statement-on-h5n1-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/456530\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Virus Network Statement on H5N1 Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAMPA, Fla., April 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The\u00a0Global Virus Network (GVN)<\/a>, representing eminent human and animal virologists from more than 90 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in over 40 countries dedicated to advancing research, collaboration, and pandemic preparedness, unequivocally supports and is very encouraged by recent developments<\/a> in vaccines targeting H5N1 avian influenza, including the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial by Moderna for its mRNA-based H5N1 vaccine candidate (mRNA-1018), with the majority of clinical sites based in the United Kingdom and additional sites in the United States. This effort, supported by the UK\u2019s National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)<\/a>, represents an important step forward while pointing to a significant opportunity to strengthen global preparedness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are seeing a virus that continues to expand its host range and geographic reach. This is exactly when surveillance, data sharing, and preparedness measures must accelerate and keep pace with the science,\u201d said Marion Koopmans, DVM, PhD<\/strong>, a GVN center of excellence director and scientific director of the Pandemic and Disaster Research Centre at Erasmus Medical Center, Netherlands. Dr. Koopmans is a U.S. and Dutch National Academy of Sciences member. She is highly regarded for her research on emerging infectious diseases and as a scientific advisor to policymakers at national and international levels.<\/p>\n

The renewed focus on vaccines reflects the urgency of recommendations GVN outlined in its 2025 analysis published in The Lancet Regional Health\u2014Americas<\/a>, which called for accelerated vaccine development alongside strengthened surveillance, biosecurity, and coordinated international response.<\/p>\n

Recent data underscore the scale and persistence of H5N1 spread. Between late November 2025 and February 2026, more than 2,500 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza were reported across 32 European countries, including over 2,100 cases in wild birds alone, with levels significantly higher than in previous years, according to a joint report<\/a> from the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Globally, outbreaks continue to be reported across multiple regions, reflecting sustained transmission in animal populations, according<\/a> to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.<\/p>\n

Ongoing zoonotic spillover events highlight the continued risk at the human\u2013animal interface. In Cambodia, sporadic human infections with H5N1 continue to be reported, often associated with severe disease. While these events remain rare, they reinforce the importance of sustained vigilance and preparedness. Since 2023, Cambodia has reported more than 30 human cases of H5N1<\/a> with a high case fatality rate exceeding 40%, based on national and international surveillance reports, with multiple cases reported in 2026 to date<\/a>, demonstrating the continued potential for severe outcomes following zoonotic transmission.<\/p>\n

The GVN\u2019s 2025 analysis published in The Lancet Regional Health\u2014Americas<\/a> identified a critical reality: sustained human-to-human transmission of H5N1 avian influenza has not been observed, but the virus\u2019s expanding spread among animals, including mammals, and its ongoing evolution present a credible and potentially serious pandemic risk. This convergence of scientific evidence and policy attention further underscores the urgency of acting now.<\/p>\n

GVN virologists stress the need for strengthened pandemic preparedness and emphasize that preparedness must extend beyond early-stage vaccine development to include:<\/p>\n