HPAI Vaccine Funding
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. USDA is investing significant resources to fight Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or bird flu, including $100 million to develop a vaccine.
American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Bernt (BEAR-ent) Nelson says infections are beginning to ease …
NELSON … “Kind of looking at a slowdown at this time of the year when we think about what's happening with our migratory birds, the migrations have slowed down. We're nesting season, so there's a lot less bird movement, and thus we have a lot lower case load of avian influenza. That's about normal for this time of the year. We have had one major detection in the past, you know, a week or two, and that was 700,000 egg layers in South Dakota.”
Nelson says the ultimate goal of any vaccination is protecting supply chains …
NELSON … “So, when we think about these vaccines, more than 30 countries have now implemented some sort of vaccine strategy since 2005. Historically, when countries have done this, this has caused some major trade issues. Importing countries have a concern. They don't want to risk an imported bird spreading the virus into the local flocks or wildlife.”
Nelson says beyond trade issues, one of the biggest limiting factors of a vaccine strategy is that the only vaccines available have to be injected at least two to three times, and with 375 million birds, that's just not feasible.
For more information, go to www.fb.org/marketintel .
