Despite Money for HPAI Vaccines, Implementation Struggles Remain
The USDA is putting serious muscle behind the fight against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, with a hefty $100 million earmarked for vaccine research and development.
Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says there’s been a recent lull in activity—something that’s fairly typical for this time of year. With migratory bird movement slowing and nesting season underway, the number of new avian flu cases has dropped. Still, there was one significant recent detection: a flock of 700,000 egg-laying hens in South Dakota tested positive just in the last couple of weeks.
Nelson adds that while vaccination could help protect the poultry supply chain, it’s not without challenges. Beyond trade implications, the current vaccines require multiple injections, and with about 375 million egg-laying birds in the U.S., the labor demands make large-scale implementation difficult.
