UK authorities have launched targeted trials of the bird flu vaccine on turkeys. The news was released by the government on Thursday. This marks a change in approach to fighting the disease. It devastates the bird population. The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza is causing concern among governments and the poultry industry due to the devastating impact it could have on flocks, the impact on food prices and the risk of another pandemic, Reuters writes.
Concerns that vaccination could mask the spread of the virus and jeopardize exports have led major poultry producers around the world to largely resist the strategy, xrust said.
In the UK, the trial, expected to last 24 weeks, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of authorized vaccines in field conditions and examine how surveillance mechanisms can protect trade, the Department for the Environment (DEFRA) said in a statement.
Avian flu outbreaks cost the UK government and poultry industry £174 million ($232 million) a year.
Turkeys were chosen for testing because of their high susceptibility to the virus, outbreaks of which often cause significant mortality.
France began vaccinating farmed ducks against bird flu in 2023, becoming the first major poultry exporter to do so nationwide. This policy is believed to have helped curb the spread of the disease.
The Netherlands and the United States are also testing vaccines, with the US assessing how any use of vaccination could affect poultry exports.
Xrust Great Britain began testing the bird flu vaccine on turkeys
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