UK Trials Bird Flu Vaccine in Turkeys

Britain has launched targeted trials for a bird flu vaccine in turkeys, a move representing a significant shift in disease control strategies. These 24-week trials aim to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of approved vaccines and assess how surveillance can protect trade.

Bird flu outbreaks have imposed substantial financial burdens, with estimates suggesting annual costs of up to £174 million for the British government and poultry industry. Turkeys are the focus due to their high susceptibility and mortality rates during outbreaks.

Globally, major poultry producers have been hesitant to adopt vaccination, fearing it might obscure the virus's spread and harm export markets. However, France has been vaccinating farm ducks since 2023 and credits this with curbing the disease. The Netherlands and the United States are also conducting vaccine trials.

Europe recently faced an unprecedented early surge in bird flu, driven by widespread infections in wild birds. This highly pathogenic avian influenza has necessitated the culling of millions of farmed birds, disrupting food supplies and increasing prices. Although human infections remain rare, the disease's early onset this season has caused significant mortality among wild bird populations.