US to Rebuild Stockpile of Bird Flu Vaccines for Poultry
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to rebuild a stockpile of bird flu vaccines for poultry that match the strain of the virus currently circulating in commercial flocks and wild birds. The move comes amid a persistent and widespread outbreak of the disease, which has already killed over 130 million commercial, backyard, and wild birds across all 50 states.
The outbreak, which began in poultry in early 2022, has had a devastating impact on the egg industry, pushing wholesale egg prices to record highs. Bird flu has also been detected in dairy cattle herds and has infected nearly 70 people, most of whom are farm workers exposed to sick poultry or cattle. The US reported its first human death related to bird flu on Monday.
The USDA built a poultry vaccine stockpile after a major bird flu outbreak in 2014 and 2015, but the vaccines were never used. Egg and turkey farm groups have called for deploying a vaccine, citing the economic toll for farmers of killing their flocks. However, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has said that deploying a vaccine would not be possible in the short term due to trade risks.
The USDA has also enrolled 28 states in its national bulk milk testing program to detect bird flu in dairy herds. So far, testing has not detected new infected herds in states that previously were virus-free. In the past 30 days, infected herds have been reported in California and Texas.
The USDA believes it is prudent to rebuild the vaccine stockpile to match current outbreak strains. The agency purchased vaccines from Merck & Co, Ceva, and government researchers after the prior outbreak, but the vaccines expired and were discarded. The agency has not indicated whether it will purchase new vaccines or deploy the existing ones.
