Laurent Muschel, Director General of HERA (Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority), has stated that avian influenza is the primary risk factor for the emergence of future pandemics. This statement was made in Rome during the ‘HERA info days’, a series of events designed to inform professionals across the member states about the activities of the HERA. The situation is closely monitored in collaboration with the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), and the WHO, according to Muschel. He emphasised HERA’s dedication to facilitating the negotiation of contracts to ensure the availability of pandemic vaccines if required, as stipulated in the contracts with GSK and SEQIRUS. These contracts obligate to provide more than 100 million doses to participating countries in the event of a pandemic declaration. Last year, an additional contract was signed with SEQUIRUS for the prompt provision of vaccines, with approximately 700,000 doses already delivered for human use, suitable for the variant currently circulating in birds. These are primarily intended to protect veterinarians and individuals working with poultry. Concerning other potential threats to public health, a list of pathogens with a high pandemic potential is currently being studied. This is being achieved by developing technological platforms that employ artificial intelligence (AI), capable of providing rapid responses to risk.
January 21, 2025
