A new targeted vaccine trial in turkeys will test the vaccine’s effectiveness as part of the fight to protect wild and captive birds from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
This vaccine trial explores the potential of modern vaccines to protect birds and provides valuable insight into how vaccines work in the field, how surveillance can be managed to maintain trade, and how vaccines can help manage avian influenza.
Baroness Heyman, Minister for Biosecurity, said: “We know how devastating this disease is to farmers and the poultry sector every year.
“The start of trials of a new vaccine is a significant step forward in the fight against this disease and will contribute to global research efforts. We hope that the vaccine can be used in the UK as an additional tool to control avian influenza, to protect the UK’s biosecurity and food supply.”
Avian influenza outbreak causes devastating damage to farms
The scale of the avian influenza outbreak in the UK and Europe in recent years has been unprecedented, with devastating consequences for frontline bird keepers and the poultry sector.
The disease has had a major impact on both captive and wild birds around the world since 2020, with annual outbreaks costing the UK government and industry up to £174 million.
Turkeys were chosen as a priority species for further research because they are highly susceptible to avian influenza, resulting in severe clinical symptoms and rapidly increasing mortality.
Vaccine trials will use UK/EU licensed vaccines, approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), and will take samples from a small number of birds under strict supervision.
Professor Ashley Bunyard, avian influenza disease expert at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, explains:
“The impact changes from year to year and disease events are very difficult to predict.
“Assessing the ability of these vaccines to elicit an immune response in turkeys will provide a good indication of their suitability as tools to protect birds from H5N1.”
Integrating vaccines into the UK’s disease control strategy
Vaccination of poultry against avian influenza is currently not permitted more widely in the UK.
The vaccine trial will assess how the vaccine can be safely and effectively integrated into the UK’s disease control strategy, generate data on vaccine effectiveness and contribute to the growth of the international research body on HPAI vaccination.
This will help researchers understand how the vaccine can be effectively used in the UK as an additional tool to control avian influenza, providing valuable information on vaccine effectiveness and contributing to global research efforts at this difficult time.
“This targeted trial will be critical to understanding how the HPAI vaccine can be effectively used for disease control in the UK. The HPAI vaccine has the potential to be an extremely valuable additional tool in protecting birds from infection,” said UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss.
The potential benefits of HPAI vaccination are being considered in several countries facing similar challenges to the UK. In Europe, vaccine trials are underway in Italy and the Netherlands.
The trial will last 24 weeks and provide insight into the final recommendations of the UK’s HPAI Vaccination Taskforce.
Biosecurity measures as protection against avian influenza
Robust biosecurity remains the best defense against this disease.
All bird keepers should be familiar with the steps they can take to prevent avian influenza and avoid its potential spread. Staying alert for signs of disease and reporting them promptly will help keep your birds safe.
“Strict biosecurity is always our best defense and we urge all bird keepers to continue to take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of avian influenza on their premises,” Mr Middlemiss concluded.
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