As we near 200-herds being impacted by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the USDA says work is moving forward on a vaccine.
The agency has recently announced plans to conduct field trials for a vaccine aimed at preventing H5N1 from infecting dairy cows.
While four vaccines are licensed for avian influenza, none are approved for the current strain. And while a number of companies are working on a vaccine, the ag secretary says one company has presented sufficient information to allow him to authorize the first field trial.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to develop [a vaccine] in the near term with the information in this field trial,” says USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack. “That will allow us to determine whether we can go to the next level, next set of steps necessary to ensure safe and effective use of the vaccine.”
The vaccine work is being overseen by USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics.
The secretary’s announcement comes after several ag industries, including dairy groups like the National Milk Producers Federation, sent a letter to the secretary supporting the development of a safe and effective vaccine one that can be used for dairy cows, turkeys and egg-laying hens.
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