Australian pharmaceutical giant CSL has won contracts to supply avian flu vaccinations to Europe and the United States, as countries including Australia ramp up preparations for the dangerous H5N1 avian flu virus.

Health authorities around the world are preparing for potential human infection from the highly pathogenic bird flu virus. CSL’s influenza vaccine business, CSL Seqirus, is supplying the US government with 4.8 million vials. The European Union has ordered 650,000 shots, with an option for a further 40 million.