Finland has become the first country to start vaccinating humans against bird flu, health authorities announced on Tuesday.

The country will offer bird flu vaccines to certain workers with animal exposure beginning next week. Finland purchased vaccines for 10,000 people, each requiring two doses, as part of a joint EU procurement.

The vaccines, produced by Australian manufacturer CSL Seqirus, will be given to individuals aged 18 or over at increased risk of avian influenza due to their work.

Although Finland has not detected bird flu in humans, the move aims to mitigate high transmission risks, particularly from its fur farms, the Express reported.

The H5N1 strain has caused significant global poultry deaths and has recently spread to cows and, occasionally, humans.

Written by B.C. Begley