This is why the US does not work to vaccinate birds against avian influenza

By Ciara Linnane

Over 160 million birds were slaughtered during the current outbreak

Over 160 million wild and domesticated birds have been slaughtered in the US after having tested positive for the avian flu in recent years. So why does the country not rush to vaccinate the flocks to stop the spread of the outbreak?

The main trading partners of the nation do not import vaccinated birds, which creates a challenge for farmers who grow chicken for meat, unlike those who grow egg chickens.

Industrial groups representing the two types of farmers are related to this subject. The broiler industry, as meat manufacturers are known, lobby against vaccination, while egg producers are classified for biosecurity measures. The members of the two groups are subjected to the same commercial rules, even if they function as separate industries.

The broiler industry is much larger than the egg producing industry. Broiler exports totaled $ 4.7 billion in 2024 and represented 3.25 million tonnes of exports, according to a US export council report for poultry and eggs.

Cal-Maine, the largest egg manufacturer in the country, had total sales of $ 2.3 billion in 2024, with 1.1 billion eggs sold.

Last week, the US Agriculture Department granted a conditional license to the animal health company Zoetis Inc. (ZTS) for its flux bird vaccine for chicken use. A conditional license is used in an emergency or special circumstances for a finite period.

But the movement falls with a complete approval of the vaccine and does not mean that farmers have access to photos or that they are available in trade.

On Wednesday, USDA announced that it intends to invest up to $ 1 billion to combat bird flu and reduce egg prices. The Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, said the number is above the financing already provided to compensate the farmers for herds.

This money includes $ 500 million for biosecurity measures, $ 400 million in financial exemption for farmers and $ 100 million for research and actions for vaccines to reduce regulatory tasks and to explore temporary import options.

“American farmers need help, and American consumers need accessible food. For every family who struggles to buy eggs: we hear you, we fight for you, and the help is on the road,” Rollins said in a statement.

USDA will collaborate with trading partners to seek to limit the impact on export markets for potential vaccination, she added, without specifying details.

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about 166.1 million birds have been slaughtered in the current outbreak on Tuesday, including chickens, turkeys, ducks and wild birds.

The extremely pathogenic (H5) Avian flu viruses have been detected in the US wild birds, commercial birds and herds in the yard or hobbyist from January 2022, according to the CDC. These were the first US detections from a outbreak in 2016.

There are 51 American jurisdictions with the flu of birds in wild birds and outbreaks in poultry. Starting with February 21, 983 dairy herds have also been affected, with outbreaks in cows in 16 states.

In total, 64 human cases have been registered by supervision from March 24, 2024. A person, a person from Louisiana who was hospitalized with a severe infection in January, died.

For more, read: Modern’s Stock stumbles on the HHS report examines the $ 590 million prize for the Flux bird vaccine

The CDC continues to evaluate the risk for public health as a low and there was no transmission from person to known person.

-The Linnane

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