FDA Expands RSV Vaccine Approval, Texas Bird Flu Strain Concerns

The U.S. FDA has approved the broader use of GSK's RSV vaccine for adults aged 50 to 59. Additionally, a Texas bird flu strain has been found lethal to ferrets, drawing concern from the CDC. U.S. agencies plan to research bird flu's respiratory spread in dairy cattle to manage and reduce human exposure.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

US FDA expands GSK's RSV vaccine approval to adults aged 50 to 59

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the expanded use of GSK's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine on Friday in adults aged between 50 and 59, making it the first shot endorsed for that age group. The shot, branded Arexvy, and vaccines from rivals Pfizer and Moderna are already approved for people aged 60 and older for the virus.

Texas bird flu strain kills ferrets used to mimic disease in humans, US CDC says

The bird flu virus strain that infected a Texas dairy farm worker in March was lethal to ferrets in experiments designed to mimic the disease in humans, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Friday. Seasonal flu, by contrast, makes ferrets sick but does not kill them, the CDC said.

US to research possible respiratory spread of bird flu in cows

U.S. federal and state agencies are planning research into potential respiratory spread of bird flu among dairy cattle, according to a Reuters interview with Michigan state agriculture and public health officials. Scientists and government officials hope the research will guide efforts to contain the virus and reduce exposure to humans. Respiratory spread could give the virus more opportunity to evolve, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)