A letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week from key representatives of the U.S. dairy, turkey and egg industries may have had an impact.
Vilsack responded by telling the 2024 Farm Progress Show that trials of an HSN1 virus vaccine for livestock are beginning.
The letter from industry leaders demanded that USDA and its federal partners develop safe and effective H5N1 vaccinations for dairy cows, turkeys and laying hens to help reduce the circulation of avian influenza in dairy herds and reduce the risk of spillover of highly pathogenic pathogens. avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial turkey flocks and egg-laying operations.
They expressed concern about the federal response as the HPAI virus has killed 101 million birds in U.S. commercial flocks. Since March, bird flu has infected at least 192 dairy farms and 14 human cases have also been reported.
“As this H5N1 outbreak continues to evolve, it is clear that a new approach is needed. This includes the availability of animal vaccines effective against current and future H5Nx strains necessary for a sustainable food supply and for human and animal health,” said representatives of the United Egg Producers, International Dairy Foods Association, National Milk Producers Federation and National The Turkish Federation wrote in their letter to Vilsack.
In his announcement, Vilsack stated that the next step regarding the possible development of an H5N1 virus vaccine for livestock is taking place:
“Since we are at the Farm Progress Show, we want to make sure we announce the progress,” he said.
He then gave an update on the development of vaccines to prevent bird flu in cattle.
According to the secretary, the USDA has several companies working on vaccines, and one company has now presented sufficient information to the USDA “to allow me, as I did this week, to authorize the first field trial of a vaccine for cattle H5N1 for safety. purposes.”
Field trials are the next step in vaccine development. “Hopefully we can develop in the short term with the information we get from this trial,” Vilsack said.
The trial will allow USDA to determine whether it can proceed with the next steps necessary “to ensure safe and effective use of the vaccine.”
USDA’s Center of Veterinary Biologics oversees vaccine development. It is accepting field trial applications for H5N1 vaccines that can be conducted outside containment without ultimately throwing away milk and other raw materials.
The Center directed that all studies, even those that did not involve virus challenge, should be conducted in containment facilities, regardless of the risk profile.
Since the letter to Vilsack, USDA has said the department is “leaving no stone unturned in the fight against H5N1.”
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