First discovered in 1996 in geese bred in southern China, the H5N1 strain has caused hundreds of deaths in people over the years, mainly via exposure to infected animals. The version of the virus spreading in North America right now has led to only a few serious cases, but concerns have been rising since a death was linked to the virus in Louisiana earlier this month.
Moderna was awarded an additional US$590 million ($807.18 million) from the US government to help the company develop a vaccine aimed at protecting people from bird flu.
The funding will support late-stage development and licensing of pre-pandemic vaccines and expansion of human studies for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic influenza, according to a statement Friday.
