AMES, Iowa – Last week, the Centers for Disease Control said 15 new cases of H3N2 variant Flu were confirmed recently – most of the cases were from an Ohio fair.
Iowa-based Harrisvaccines has been monitoring genetic shift and drift in swine viruses since Harrisvaccines’ initially developed a vaccine for swine against pandemic H1N1 in June of 2009. Using Harrisvaccines patented RNA Particle technology, the company isable to make a vaccine within 4 weeks without culturing the live virus liketraditional vaccine companies do today.
“We have the ability to produce a swine vaccine for the H3N2 variant strain and are prepared to work with federal officials to make it available should the situation warrant,” says D.L. “Hank” Harris, DVM, Ph.D., founder and president of Harrisvaccines. “Our patented RNA Particle platform allows for rapid vaccine response to situations such as we saw in the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus and today with the H3N2 variant strain that is crossing from pigs to humans.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 29 people have contracted H3N2v virus in the U.S. since July, 2011. Twenty-three of these cases reported swine contact prior to illness onset.
Symptoms of H3N2 infection in humans are similar to those of seasonal flu, including fever, respiratory symptoms and body aches. No serious illnesses or deaths as a result of the virus in humans have been reported.
Monitoring of the H3N2v in swine has increased since pigs tested positive for the virus at the Butler CountyFair in Ohio earlier this summer. All pigs registered to be exhibited at the Iowa State Fair are tested by the state veterinarian and any sick pig is refusedentry, according to Iowa State Fair officials.
Harrisvaccines’ RNA Platform technology differs from traditional production processes require significantly more time.
“All we need is the gene to make the vaccine,” Harris says. “Traditional vaccine manufacturers can take six to 12 months to produce a perfectly matched vaccine. Using our RNA Particle technology, Harrisvaccines is able to make a vaccine within four weeks, without culturing the live virus as traditional vaccine development processes require.”
Currently, Harrisvaccines has pending USDA licensure for the RNA Platform rapid response technology, a long and complicated process that has lasted more than six years.
“Our technology is so advanced that the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics did not have a ‘box’ to put us in,” Harris says. “Now that we have complied with all the necessary testing and paperwork, we are still waiting to be regulated and fully bring this technology to the market.”
Anticipating USDA approval, Harrisvaccines has been actively monitoring genetic shift and drift in swine viruses sincedeveloping a swine vaccine against pandemic H1N1 in June of 2009.
Source: Harrisvaccines