October 1, 2024

 

US farmers push for vaccinations amid ongoing bird flu crisis

US farmers are increasing pressure on the Biden administration to permit vaccinations for chickens, turkeys, and cattle to protect against bird flu, which has severely impacted livestock over the past three years, Reuters reported.

 

The US$67 billion US poultry industry faces a dual threat this autumn from infections linked to both dairies and migrating birds, raising concerns over the spread of the disease.

 

Bird flu, which is deadly for poultry and reduces milk production in dairy cattle, has resulted in the loss of more than 100 million chickens and turkeys since 2022, marking the largest outbreak in US history.

 

Rose Acre Farms, the second-largest egg producer in the country, has urged the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow vaccinations, according to CEO Marcus Rust. The company has lost millions of hens due to outbreaks and is relocating a breeding facility in Indiana because of its proximity to a wildlife refuge that attracts migratory birds.

 

The virus has spread to cattle in 14 states and has infected 13 dairy and poultry farm workers this year. Scientists and federal officials are increasingly concerned about the potential risks to humans as the virus continues to spread.

 

In August, leading egg, turkey, and dairy industry groups argued in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that the economic impact of the outbreak justifies the deployment of a vaccine. Federal lawmakers have also called on the USDA to accelerate vaccine research and develop new strategies to help farmers prevent further outbreaks.

 

A USDA spokesperson confirmed that the agency is working with state and federal partners, as well as researchers, to protect livestock, farmers, and farm workers. The agency is also researching the potential use of animal vaccinations.

 

However, in a previously undisclosed letter from March, Vilsack noted that a vaccine campaign would face challenges, including export restrictions. Many countries ban imports of vaccinated poultry due to concerns that vaccines could mask the presence of the virus.

 

"Widespread vaccination of commercial poultry is not possible in the short term," Vilsack wrote in the letter, obtained through a public records request by the animal welfare group Farm Forward and shared with Reuters.

 

Despite these challenges, more countries are considering the use of vaccines. France began vaccinating ducks against bird flu last year, and New Zealand is testing a vaccine on five species of wild birds, despite having never experienced a bird flu outbreak.

 

The US has only approved emergency use of bird flu vaccines to protect endangered California condors, vaccinating 94 condors last year, which led to a cessation of bird flu-related deaths, according to Julianna Lenoch, a USDA wildlife disease expert.

 

Bird flu killed 17 million egg-laying hens between April and July, according to USDA data. By August, retail egg prices rose to over $3.20 per dozen, reaching a 16-month high.

 

As the migratory season for wild birds progresses, experts warn that the uncertainty of the virus's spread remains high. The migration, which lasts until December, involves waterfowl flying south from northern states like Minnesota. Some species, like the Blue-winged Teal ducks, can travel as far as South America, according to Andy Ramey, a research scientist at the US Geological Survey.

 

Brazil, the world's largest chicken exporter, is also preparing for more cases among wild birds as migration continues, its poultry association reported.

 

Migratory birds can carry the virus without showing symptoms and transmit it to poultry. However, it appears fewer wild birds are becoming infected, possibly due to increasing immunity, Ramey suggested.

 

-      Reuters