The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has initiated efforts to develop an indigenous vaccine against the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. With confirmed H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and wild birds across India in 2021, 2023, and 2024. ICMR stresses the urgency of preparedness given the virus’s alarming case fatality rate in humans and its pandemic potential if human-to-human transmission evolves.
Key Highlights:
- Vaccine Development: ICMR’s Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) holds H5N1 strains for research. The agency seeks collaborations with biotech firms and manufacturers to co-develop and commercialize a human vaccine.
- Public Health Risks: While rare, human infections, linked to direct contact with infected birds, cause severe symptoms, including respiratory distress, multi-organ failure, and death.
- Global Context: The WHO is accelerating mRNA-based H5N1 vaccine development for low- and middle-income countries, aligning with ICMR’s efforts to bolster regional preparedness.
"H5N1 infection in humans has a high case fatality rate, exceeding 50%. Although human cases are rare, the severity of illness underscores the need for vigilance."
Recurrent outbreaks have devastated India’s poultry industry, causing mass culling and economic losses. For clinicians, early recognition of symptoms (fever, respiratory distress) and rapid isolation protocols remain critical to curbing zoonotic transmission risks. ICMR’s proactive vaccine initiative marks a pivotal step in India’s pandemic preparedness.
