4 Avian Flu Developments You Need to Know

The poultry industry, especially layers, has been devastated by the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Recent developments in highly pathogenic avian influenza have been coming fast and furious, so here are four things you should be aware of in this ongoing outbreak and why it should matter to you:

1. New government strategy announced. Recently the Trump administration announced a shift in strategy in combating the virus, moving away from mass depopulation of poultry houses to more enhanced biosecurity and targeted medications of birds. Mass depopulation of poultry houses has been the predominant control tactic used to stamp out the virus once it has been detected on a farm.
2. Poultry industry split on vaccinations. At a recent meeting with Senator Dave McCormick, R-PA, Pennsylvania poultry leaders, most of whom were from the egg-laying business, appealed to McCormick for a new national approach in combating the disease that includes vaccinations.

Egg-laying farms have been hit the hardest by H5N1. According to recent data from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, more than 77% of H5N1 cases in poultry since 2022 have been reported in layer operations, including breeders and pullets.

“It’s the worst it’s ever been. It’s never been this bad. Even back into the 1980s, it’s never been like this,” said Byron Shaffer, director of food safety and quality assurance at Kreider Farms, which was the state’s first farm to test positive for H5N1 in 2022.

“This is a big problem as it exists, but my takeaway, is it could get a lot worse,” McCormick said after the meeting.

However, the poultry industry is split on the issue of vaccinations. The United Egg Producers has urged USDA to proceed with stockpiling vaccines and to begin clinical trials of a vaccine for poultry. It also urged the department to work on layer and turkey vaccine delivery methods other than injections.

The National Chicken Council, the trade organization that represents broiler operations, is opposed largely due to export concerns. Tom Super, the council’s spokesman, wrote in an email that most countries, including the U.S., don’t recognize countries that vaccinate as being free of HPAI because of concerns that vaccines can mask the presence of the disease. Therefore, these countries do not import from countries that vaccinate.

“The U.S. broiler industry is the second-largest exporter of chicken in the world, exporting about 16% of our chicken meat production valued at more than $5 billion annually,” Super said. “If we start vaccinating for HPAI in the U.S., regardless of what poultry sector vaccinates, the broiler industry will lose our ability to export, which will cost the industry and the U.S. economy billions and billions of dollars every year.”

“Until we have written assurances and trade protections in place with our trading partners, and the definition of ‘poultry’ is changed by the World Organization for Animal Health, the National Chicken Council will continue to oppose vaccination for highly pathogenic avian influenza. We currently support USDA’s APHIS ‘stamping out’ policy to eradicate the virus,” Super added.

USDA has already granted conditional approval to Zoetis to use its bird flu vaccine in poultry. According to an article in Science, the vaccine contains a killed version of an H5N2 variant that the company has designed to work against circulating variants of the H5N1 virus.

But it is still unclear when or if vaccination of commercial birds will begin.

3. Cows test positive for wild bird strain. USDA recently confirmed that the H5N1 D1.1 strain, the dominant strain found in wild birds, was found on dairy farms in Nevada and Arizona. This is a big development because previous strains were the B3.13 genotype, and there is concern that in places like Pennsylvania that have large numbers of poultry and dairy that it could make transmission to dairy farms easier.

A follow-up report published recently by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota stated that detections of the new genotype came from milk testing, and that clinical signs in the cows didn't develop until after the detections. Farmers in Nevada also reported large wild bird die-offs near their facilities where positives came back.

On February 13, the USDA confirmed the D1.1 strain on a dairy farm in Arizona. This confirmation was a result of state tracing and investigation. According to a press release, whole-genome sequencing showed the detection as a separate wild bird introduction of H5N1 to dairy cattle and is now the third identified spillover event into dairy cattle. This finding may indicate an increased risk of H5N1 introduction into dairies through wild bird exposure.

4. Current numbers reported. More than 754 commercial poultry flocks have tested positive for H5N1 since the outbreak began in 2022. It has affected 162 million birds.

Over the past 30 days, there have been 102 commercial poultry flocks affected by HPAI, accounting for 23.33 million birds. But the last official case confirmed by USDA was on February 14. There is usually a lag between states reporting a case and USDA then confirming. So, it is quite likely that the official number is higher.

On dairy farms, 972 cases of the virus have been reported in 17 states. Over the past 30 days, 36 new cases of H5N1 in dairy cows have been reported, including the first cases in Nevada and Arizona. Like in poultry, there is usually a lag between states reporting a case and USDA then confirming, so it is also likely that this official number is higher.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

We realize this is not the first time Bird Flu has been mentioned or featured in this Ag Intelligence Report. However, it is such a significant issue that it simply cannot be ignored. It is impacting our poultry and dairy farmers. It also caused prices, especially for eggs, to rise dramatically, thus, affecting all consumers. It is evident that recent efforts to contain the spread have not been successful. New strategies and vaccines will hopefully slow or stop the spread and reduce the need for concern going forward. As stated in prior AIR issues – we will remain hopeful and optimistic that the new developments will do the trick.  In the meantime, perhaps you could consider ways to help consumers by offering to provide a stipend towards the purchase of chickens or eggs with the purchase of a new or qualified used vehicle. That would also show support to the poultry producers in your area.