France - Vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza starting in October 2023, mandatory for all commercial duck farms

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Avian flu: experimentation with the vaccination of waterfowl will begin

While France is going through a particularly deadly fourth episode of avian flu, experimentation with a vaccine for waterfowl will start on Tuesday, May 10. The envelope is around 2.3 million euros, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Ouest France
with AFP.
Published on05/09/2022 at 8:00 p.m.

Experimentation with a vaccine for palmipeds will start on Tuesday May 10, 2022 at a time when France is going through a fourth particularly deadly episode of avian flu, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Monday May 9, reporting on an envelope of approximately 2.3 million euros.

"An experiment to analyze the interest of setting up a vaccine on these species will start on May 10 for two batches of palmipeds, other batches will be set up in the following weeks with vaccine trials in several phases" , explained the Ministry.

Selection of two candidate vaccines

Two vaccine candidates were selected, that of the Ceva Santé Animale laboratory and that of Boehringer Ingelheim. The experiment will be funded by the State, the National Agency for Food Safety (Anses), the Toulouse Veterinary School and the interprofessional organization (Comité interprofessionnel des palmipèdes à foie gras-Cifog).

Other experiments are planned in Europe: "in France on ducks, in Bulgaria on geese and in the Netherlands on chickens" , explained to AFP at the end of April the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA ).

The challenge is to deploy this additional tool on “the whole territory” underlines the ministry, but to vaccinate is also to see opportunities close.

In case of vaccination, export must be "possible"

Many countries (Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Great Britain, United States, etc.) refuse to supply themselves with poultry in countries that practice vaccination against avian flu, fearing that a vaccinated animal will import the virus onto their country. territory.

But "if we have to move towards vaccination, export must be possible" , indicated the ministry without developing further on negotiations with countries outside Europe.

“The vaccination strategy will be recorded for European countries, for third countries, which represent important commercial issues, it will be necessary that, collectively, we defend the interest of this vaccination and the absence of risk for them” , explained the Ministry of Agriculture.

16 million poultry slaughtered

From November to May, more than 1,300 outbreaks of avian flu broke out in French farms, causing the slaughter of 16 million poultry in the country, including 11 million in the great west, against 3.5 million in total l last year.

Usually, France is crossed only by a wave of bird flu, when migratory birds descend towards the countries of the South in the fall. But in an unprecedented way, outbreaks are to be deplored this year during a period of upward migration, giving rise to a greater number of outbreaks than in previous years.

https://www.ouest-france.fr/sante/g...ommencer-30bf327e-cfbf-11ec-9e3e-278bc975ec11

 

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Avian flu vaccine: "It will take 8 to 10 months of experimentation" warns the director of CIFOG

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 11:55 a.m. - By Marc Bertrand , France Bleu Périgord , France Bleu

Breeders of fattened ducks and geese are pinning "a lot of hope" on the vaccine against avian flu, declares Marie-Pierre Pé, the director of CIFOG, the interprofessional committee for palmipeds with foie gras, guest of the 6-9 of France Bleu Périgord this Wednesday, May 11. Two vaccine candidates began to be tested this week in two test farms in Gers and Landes. Avian flu has heavily affected the Dordogne this year, with 59 outbreaks detected and more than half a million poultry slaughtered since the start of the crisis more than two months ago.

Test farms in Landes and Gers

"We are still in an experimental phase, it is not at all a large-scale vaccination, but it is essential to have a marketing authorization" , explains the boss of the interprofession: "The protocol consists to verify that throughout the life of the duck, the vaccinated animals do not excrete virus, therefore do not represent a danger for the animals and the surrounding farms, and to verify that the vaccine is effective".

There are at least eight to ten months of experimentation, of tests, before having vaccines that can be used in the field

In the Landes, the batch of ducks being tested will be housed at the Artiguères farm experimental station in Benquet, near Mont-de-Marsan, as revealed by France Bleu Gascogne . This farm looks like a farm in every way, with a room for force-feeding, with the tools necessary for scientific study: "It will take at least four months for a first breeding cycle, then there will be a second cycle. breeding, so there are at least eight to ten months of experimentation, of tests, before having vaccines that can be used in the field" , explains Marie-Pierre Pé.

Eight to ten months "minimum" for experiments

The Ceva Santé Animale laboratory, based in Libourne in Gironde, supplies the doses against avian flu. Scientists from the National Veterinary School of Toulouse are responsible for monitoring, a breeder is also present. In batches and over the weeks, the ducks will then be transferred to a secure laboratory of the National Health Security Agency (Anses). The ducks will then be confronted with the virus. For Marie-Pierre Pé, this vaccine is an element that will be decisive: "Unfortunately, we see that despite all the measures that producers applied last winter, we are again victims of this terrible animal disease" .

Unfortunately, we see that despite all the measures that producers applied last winter, we are again victims of this terrible animal disease.

She assures that this vaccine "will be an additional tool in our toolbox" against the virus: "It took a long time to implement, but avian influenza has done so much damage among animals this year, all countries of the European Union are practically affected this year, the United States and Canada too, everyone is very sensitive to this experimental work, which is also taking place in the Netherlands and Hungary".

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/agri...-du-1652262882

 

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Avian flu: Less and less opposition to vaccination

With HPAI viruses becoming pandemic, the debate on the vaccination of farmed birds becomes less and less confrontational.

Posted on October 13, 2022 - By Pascal Le Douarin

Barely a year ago, "producer organizations did not want to hear about vaccination " , reminded Space Paul Lopez, president of the Federation of French slaughterhouse manufacturers. Even less slaughterers and breeders-hatchers exporting to third countries.

Gilles Huttepain, vice-president of the interprofession and former leader of the LDC group, is still hesitant. “We should not expect miracles with the vaccination of ducks. Let's not forget that French poultry exports are worth one billion euros . To be compared to the 6-7 billion turnover of the sector. The Brazilians are already rubbing their hands at the idea of ​​taking our places. »

But the situation has completely changed over the past year.

At the national level, some 860 households in the Grand Ouest have made it clear that avian influenza is no longer a matter specific to foie gras producers and linked to a particular health approach in the South West.

Internationally, "it is no longer an epizootic, but a pandemic", recalls Maxime Quentin, scientific director of Itavi. 46 million poultry were slaughtered in Europe. In the USA and Canada, the corpses also number in the tens of millions. Only South America is spared.

Current experiments

In Europe, which still prohibits vaccination, a lock has been broken. “In June, the EU agreed to get out of the ban dogma ,” comments Gilles Salvat, Deputy Director General of ANSES. Vaccination trials are underway in several countries: duck in France, chicken in the Netherlands, goose in Hungary, turkey in Italy.

The ideal vaccine would protect poultry from disease and block the shedding of virus particles that could spread through their environment. Doubting that a “sterilizing” vaccine will be obtained , Gilles Salvat hopes that “speed bumps” vaccines will be able to slow down an epidemic front which can advance from 3 to 7 km per week.

Two vaccines are tested, one vectorized, the other with messenger RNA. The results will be disclosed at the end of the year. According to Sylvain Comte from the Ceva laboratory, speaking at a round table at Space, “the results of the first test are encouraging and consistent with ours”. Clearly, viral excretion would be very significantly lowered.

Possibilities in 2023 or 2024

At the beginning of 2023, it will still be necessary to pass the stage of European marketing authorizations and to quickly define the vaccine strategy based on scientific data: which targets, when, how, where, which controls... More than vaccination (a injection in the hatchery and one in breeding), these are the checks that will cost, certainly less than a billion euros of support.

Technically, Ceva may be ready for the 2023-2024 season, but Paul Lopez argues that "the European Commission is considering winter 2024". In the meantime, it will also be necessary to build a European strategy leading to international health agreements.

Supported by their supervisory authorities, French exporters will have to convince third countries one by one to accept this new deal.

https://www.reussir.fr/volailles/grippe-aviaire-de-moins-en-moins-doppositions-la-vaccination

 

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Avian flu: Will the vaccine be the miracle solution to the epizootic?

NEW WAVE Barely deconfined, French poultry must return to isolation as avian flu made an early return this year

Cécile de Sèze with AFP
Published on 11/10/22 at 7:01 p.m.
...
And once more. Chickens, pigeons, geese and other free-range poultry are once again confined . When the Covid-19 locked the French at home for weeks in 2020 and 2021, it was avian flu that hit bird farms. A disease that comes back regularly, much like the human flu, but which seems to spiral out of control. Since this summer, already 770,000 animals have been slaughtered for the 2022-2023 season. A balance sheet that has more than doubled since the previous press release from the Ministry of Agriculture on October 12, reporting the slaughter of more than 330,000 animals. The level of risk associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza(IAHP), commonly known as avian flu, was raised to “high” throughout metropolitan France by a decree published this Thursday in the Official Journal.

The previous 2021-2022 season had already been catastrophic with a total of more than 20 million poultry slaughtered, in infected farms or as a preventive measure, to stop the progression of the virus and an "out of control" epidemic, according to the Minister of Agriculture at the time, Julien Denormandie, now in charge of Housing. So how to explain that this flu, also called avian influenza, takes on such a scale? How to contain it? Will the vaccine be a miracle solution? Claire Hautefeuille, veterinarian, epidemiologist and researcher at CIRAD (Centre for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development), provides some answers.

Why has avian flu taken on such proportions this year?
The unprecedented episode by its magnitude has upset the poultry industry. Certain territories, such as Pays-de-la-Loire and Brittany, spared during previous crises linked to the virus, have this time also been affected by the epizootic. Repeated confinements force mentions of free-range farming to be suspended in the specifications of reputable productions, such as duck foie gras from the South-West or eggs from Loué. And France is not the only one affected, the virus is present in 17 other European countries, according to the French platform for epidemiological surveillance in animal health (ESA). Domestic birds and poultry must be confined across England since November 7.

The virus started to hit French farms again at the end of July, exceptionally early. In the end, the poultry will only have been allowed to taste the outdoors for a few months. “This year, there has been a major paradigm shift: before, we had waves of migration with the start of infection around October-November”, explains Claire Hautefeuille to 20 Minutes . While this year, outbreaks were observed "from the beginning of August ", she continues. This premature arrival of infections is explained by “the permanent presence of the virus in wild birds in Europe”.

How to contain the epizootic?
There are several measures in place to contain contamination and control the circulation of the virus each year. There is in particular the slaughter of poultry, which is practiced a lot in France. "But also biosecurity measures such as containment, cleaning of equipment," adds Claire Hautefeuille.

Biosecurity is the health protection of farms. It makes it possible to slow down transmissions between infected subjects and uncontaminated subjects. Concretely, we separate the different farms from each other, and we avoid contamination by truck or by people, "it's a kind of social distancing on the scale of the farms", explained at the beginning of the year to L Express Jean-Luc Guérin, professor of avian pathology and director of an INRAE ​​infectiology laboratory at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse. Transmission monitoring is also important. This is what was called during the coronavirus epidemic the “test, trace”. Except that instead of being isolated, infected birds will be slaughtered.

Is the vaccine the miracle solution?
What about vaccination then? “It is generally the last method implemented”, according to Claire Hautefeuille. Initially reluctant to vaccinate against HPAI, poultry professionals are now eagerly waiting for vaccines to be authorised. An experiment is also underway in Europe. But for the moment, in France, and more widely in Europe, no vaccine has yet received the green light for its marketing. “You have to vaccinate, defends AFP Lionel Candelon, breeder in the Gers and president of the Angry Ducks association. It's the only solution we haven't tried. (…) If it doesn't work, at least we will have tried. The risk is that we slaughter 15 million poultry. " Otherwise, " how to continue " to produce, abounds the president of the chamber of agriculture of Vendée, Joël Limouzin, questioned by AFP. Vaccines exist, and are used in countries where the disease is endemic such as in Egypt or Indonesia “but not for countries which face the virus periodically”, specifies Claire Hautefeuille.

If it blocks, it is mainly for political reasons. If a country that exports its poultry vaccinates its farms, those that import these products will no longer want to do so. “France risks no longer being able to export”, sums up Claire Hautefeuille. Indeed, "if vaccination is complicated today it is because then, the identification of the circulation of the virus within the vaccinated population can be more difficult", explains the veterinarian. "There is therefore a risk that the virus will circulate quietly," she continues.

"Hence the importance of having effective surveillance systems in the territories where vaccination is implemented, as recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA)", emphasizes Claire Hautefeuille.

How can vaccination be implemented?
Logistically, a vaccination campaign would take time. The vaccine should be injected into the poultry, one at a time. There is also the vaccination of chicks, but again, it would be chick by chick. In addition, the other difficulty is to have “an effective vaccine against the strains which circulate despite the possible rapid mutations of these strains”, warns Claire Hautefeuille. Thus there are two solutions: “either a vaccine which has a field of action broad enough to cover all the strains but which risks being less effective, or a vaccine adapted to each strain”, she develops.

Parries employed today are not sufficient. Both breeders and researchers seem to agree on this point. Moreover, these growing epidemics come at a cost. Even before the resumption of the epizootic this summer, the bill for avian flu amounted to more than a billion euros for the French State to compensate the losses of professionals.

https://www.20minutes.fr/planete/4009540-20221110-grippe-aviaire-vaccin-solution-miracle-epizootie

 

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Avian flu: will the vaccine being tested make it possible to get out of the epizootic?

Avian flu is once again raging on farms in France. During last winter and spring, 20 million poultry had to be slaughtered. The epidemic continues to evolve in unprecedented ways.

Article written by
franceinfo - Anne Le Gall
French Radio
Posted on 11/16/2022 08:30
Update on 16/11/2022 08:31

An exceptional case. This summer 2022, the avian flu epidemic did not stop, because sedentary wild birds (in particular ducks, gulls, or gannets) kept the virus on the territory. What makes that, since the month of August; there are 54 outbreaks of bird flu notified in farms, mainly in Brittany and Pays de la Loire, whereas there are very few, normally at this time of the year.

It is still difficult to know if the epidemic will be even more severe than last winter, because, on the one hand, there has been progress in monitoring farms , and carrying out tests in the event of suspected contamination. . There has also been progress in the disinfection of equipment, and barrier gestures because we know that these avian flu viruses can circulate through contact with boots, straw or even travel several hundred meters through dust.

Difficult to control the chain of contamination

But on the other hand, more and more wild birds are now likely to harbor the virus and transmit it. And since they are mobile, some can travel more than 1,000 km per day! This is an aspect of the chain of contamination that is difficult to control, hence the implementation of containment measures, which are not always easy to accept but which are effective braking measures.

The vaccine currently being tested will undoubtedly make it possible to limit the crisis. It is indeed a new tool which could, in the best case, be used during 2023. Tests on two vaccines started last spring, with the vaccination of several thousand ducks, explains Jean-Luc Guérin, professor at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse. It is a question both of ensuring that the vaccine does indeed reduce the risk of contamination, but also that, afterwards, we are able to make the difference between vaccinated poultry and those which are contaminated. It is essential to monitor the progression of the virus because the vaccine will not be enough: it will be necessary in any case to continue the monitoring and the tests in the farms.

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-...tra-t-il-de-sortir-de-lepizootie_5452642.html

 

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Avian flu: a thousand birds have been vaccinated at Parc de Clères

Cleres
Of France Blue Normandy (Seine-Maritime - Eure)
Monday, November 28, 2022 at 4:21 AM
By Benedict Robin

In the midst of an avian flu epidemic, the Parc de Clères (Seine-Maritime) is vaccinating some of its birds against the disease. Zoological parks benefit from an exemption for the use of the vaccine.

At the Parc de Clères, the birds are up to date with their bird flu vaccine. In mid-November, the park veterinarian, Yannick Roman, vaccinated about a thousand birds out of the 1,500 that make up the site . “_We have arrowed those who are on semi-freedom and those who are in the aviaries where the public can enter_r” specifies Yannick Roman because they are the most exposed to the risk of the disease. He could vaccinate them all but it is a big logistics and a stress for the animals that it is always better to avoid when possible.

The exception of zoos

In addition, the vaccine against avian influenza, if it exists since 2006 is extremely constrained in its use. In reality, it is prohibited on French territory but zoos benefit from an exemption. " We started vaccinating in 2006. We did it for three to four years then the avian influenza ebbed, it was no longer a problem then it reemerged six or eight years ago " details the veterinarian who since vaccinate their animals every year.

This is a logistical but also a technical constraint because it is necessary to list all the animals which have received the injection. " A vaccinated animal is sero-positive for the disease. So if serologies are done, you need a paper certifying that it has been vaccinated " otherwise there could be doubt. In fact, we can not tell the difference between a vaccinated animal and an animal that has had the disease or is carrying it . This would be one of the reasons for its ban on large-scale use. Many countries refuse the importation of vaccinated birds for this reason for fear of importing the virus.

No cases detected at Parc de Cléres

This vaccine makes it possible in any case to avoid the confinement of the animals and it is precious for Yannick Roman because promiscuity generates the development of other diseases. In addition, some birds such as flamingos are difficult to confine. However, the veterinarian does not rely only on the vaccine to avoid the virus. A very strict bio-security plan with rules for disinfection, protection and epidemiological surveillance is in place. “ The vaccine is the icing on the cake, ” smiles Yannick Roman.

But all of this combined seems to be working. Because even if the park is not on a major migration corridor and therefore does not welcome a particularly large number of passing wild animals, there are still some and the risk is there, but to date there is no There has never been any case to deplore at Parc de Clères.

Experiments are underway in France and in the European Union for two vaccines which could be used more widely on farmed birds and poultry.

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/agri...res-1669396642

 

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Avian flu: "We have the ideal weapon" with the vaccine, says the CEO of Ceva animal health


Monday, November 28, 2022 at 7:15 a.m. - Updated Monday, November 28, 2022 at 12:54 PM

Two companies are testing a vaccine against avian flu in France: the German Boehringer and the leader in animal health in France, the company Ceva animal health, based in Libourne. Its CEO Marc Prikazsky was the guest of La nouvelle eco on France Bleu Gironde on Monday.

Since May , the Libourne-based company Ceva Animal Health has launched a large-scale test phase of its vaccine against avian flu in duck farms in Lot and Landes. Six months later, "the results are excellent", came to say on France Bleu Gironde the CEO of the company Marc Prikazsky, in The new eco.
"At seven weeks, you have no illnesses, you have no symptoms, excretion (the expulsion of the virus from the body) is greatly reduced and you can distinguish between the virus and the vaccinated animal", he explains. In short, for him, it is "the ideal weapon", against this virus which leads to confinement of poultry and has forced breeders to slaughter more than 770,000 ducks, chickens or laying hens since August 1, 2022, after already 20 million culled between fall 2021 and spring 2022, the worst avian flu crisis.

For the rest, Ceva animal health "expects the results at 11 weeks" for January, then other results in the spring. Problem, to have an operational vaccine "at the end of winter", as the Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau wishes, "there must be a state order in January", anticipates Marc Prikazsky, who estimates nine months the time required for the production and marketing of "a few tens of millions of doses" for French ducks.

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https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions...onde/marc-prikazsky-pdg-de-ceva-sante-animale

 

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Encouraging results for avian influenza vaccine Boehringer Ingelheim

December 12, 2022 - Poultry sectors

The results of the trial evaluating the potential contribution of Boehringer Ingelheim's vaccine as a tool in the fight against avian influenza are encouraging. The second phase of the trial started at the end of November. The results are expected in February 2023.

Faced with the extent of this new wave of avian influenza, the French authorities have decided to evaluate vaccination (unauthorized in France until now) as an additional tool in the fight against avian influenza.

Two candidate vaccines have been selected by the competent authorities as part of a study started in the spring of 2022 aimed at evaluating the interest of vaccinating waterfowl, and in particular the mule duck, which is the species most affected bym episodes of avian flu in recent years in France. These trials, implemented by ANSES and the Toulouse Veterinary School, under the aegis of the DGAL, aim to verify the clinical efficacy of vaccines and their ability to reduce excretion (the impact and spread of the virus) in the environment.

Boehringer Ingelheim's vaccine is one of two vaccines evaluated.

Formulated from an antigen produced using an immunogenic protein expression system of the virus by a baculovirus cultured on insect cells, this injectable subunit vaccine, leader in HPAI H5 vaccination, has already been marketed since several years in more than 10 countries in the world. It is an inactivated oil emulsion vaccine formulated with an H5 subunit antigen, which has already been the subject of numerous scientific publications.

Encouraging intermediate results

The ongoing trials will generate data on the efficacy of the vaccine in the local context, against a strain isolated in France, on mule ducks, a very specific French production. In line with previous studies, the first results are convincing, according to the pharmaceutical company.

Other technological platforms used for vaccines currently being registered in the United States are also under study.

https://www.filieres-avicoles.com/a...ntre-l-influenza-aviaire-boehringer-ingelheim

 

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16/12/2022

ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

Avian influenza: vaccination of hens is not possible this winter

The conditions are not met at present to effectively vaccinate hens, chickens and turkeys against avian influenza. In order to envisage this strategy for the next few years, it will be necessary to increase the production of existing vaccines, to develop vaccines for all species of poultry, including ducks, and to authorize these vaccines in France or in Europe.


France has experienced several major avian influenza crises in recent years . That of 2021-2022 was particularly severe, leading to the slaughter of more than 21 million poultry. These crises require a review of prevention strategies, with in particular the possibility of allowing the vaccination of poultry at European level. This, which would come in addition to other preventive measures, cannot however be implemented in France this winter. Several factors preventing its implementation have indeed been identified in the expert appraisal carried out by ANSES. The work has mainly focused on hens as a species (Gallus gallus), the only one for which there is currently an authorized vaccine in Europe.

Too few vaccines available quickly

Of the five vaccines currently available in the world, only one has a marketing authorization in Europe for chickens. However, this authorization dates from 2006 and the vaccine strain on which it is based has not been updated since. Its effectiveness is therefore uncertain on the strains currently circulating. Moreover, the low stocks available for all the existing vaccines mean that several months would be needed to produce enough doses to vaccinate farms. Indeed, the world production of vaccines against avian influenza is largely consumed by countries where the disease is established on a long-term basis. Within the European Union,

No effective vaccination of poultry without taking ducks into account

Ducks are among the most susceptible species to avian influenza. This, combined with a breeding method that leads ducks to be often exposed to wild birds or to be moved between different breeding sites, means that these animals are often the source of the introduction and spread of disease on farms. A vaccination strategy aimed at preventing the spread of the disease between two geographical areas is not possible without including the vaccination of ducks. However, there is not yet a vaccine available for this species. Vaccines are being researched and developed but will not be marketable this winter.

Vaccination of hens and chickens in response to outbreaks of infection is also useless: the circulation of the virus between farms is faster than the acquisition of immunity after vaccination.

A vaccine strategy to be developed

The Agency recalls that the definition of a global vaccine strategy must in particular go through discussions with manufacturers to develop and produce effective vaccines for all poultry species, including ducks. In all cases, new vaccines will have to be the subject of an authorization request, in order to assess their benefit/risk. This evaluation will be carried out either by the National Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, for authorization in France, or by the European Medicines Agency, for authorization throughout the European Union.

Whatever the future possibilities of vaccination, ANSES reiterates the importance of monitoring farms and biosecurity measures to limit contamination by wildlife or from infected farms.

Screening for viral infection in vaccinated animals, an imperative to authorize vaccination

Vaccination with an appropriate vaccine prevents the appearance of symptoms in vaccinated animals but not necessarily their infection by pathogenic viruses. Authorization for the vaccination of poultry by European regulations will be subject to the existence of surveillance of the vaccinated animals, so as to guarantee the absence of inapparent infection. For this, it is particularly necessary to have a validated method to distinguish naturally contaminated animals from those vaccinated. This is essential to monitor the spread of avian influenza and to authorize the export of vaccinated poultry or products derived from it.

Some of the serological tests currently used could allow this distinction but the conditions of use must be specified. In addition, the effectiveness of the tests will depend in part on the types of vaccines that will be developed for the different poultry species. Finally, the way to combine the different types of tests for optimal monitoring of vaccinated flocks in the different poultry species concerned must be specified.

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https://www.anses.fr/fr/content/infl...sageable-hiver

 

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Avian flu: "The vaccine will be ready in June 2023", announces Christiane Lambert, president of the FNSEA

Published on 20/12/2022 10:34

Article written by
franceinfo
French Radio

"The vaccine will be ready in June of next year (2023)", indicated this Tuesday, December 20 on franceinfo the president of the majority agricultural union FNSEA, Christiane Lambert, about avian flu.

“ The vaccine, today, is not ready, it is being tested ,” explained Christiane Lambert . According to the president of the FNSEA, " this vaccine will be ready in June 2023 ". In an opinion made public on Monday, ANSES (National Agency for Food , Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) had already announced that vaccination could not be implemented this winter. " Since the disease is setting in, we have to find a lasting solution, the vaccine is the solution ", according to the president of the agricultural union. Avian flu "is endemic in France ", she acknowledged.

“ Vaccination is not going fast enough, in particular because of the concern of breeders ,” continued Christiane Lambert. " I wish we could go faster because for the producers who have invested in buildings, who have repopulated, and who have to kill their livestock after a fortnight, psychologically, it's appalling ". “ For producers who have lost a lot of money, to repopulate their building and take the risk of having to slaughter everything again if animals are affected, it is a huge economic risk and psychologically it is very, very difficult ”, she insisted.

France has experienced several major avian influenza crises in recent years . According to a census by the Ministry of Agriculture, approximately 21.8 million animals (palmipeds and poultry) were euthanized in France from August 2021 to May 2022. These crises " require a review of prevention strategies, with in particular the possibility of allowing the vaccination of poultry at European level ", pleaded ANSES in its report.

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/m...e-lambert-presidente-de-la-fnsea_5554752.html

 

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Avian flu: France wants to vaccinate in the fall of 2023, already 2 million poultry slaughtered in December

By Le Figaro with AFP
Published yesterday at 8:17 p.m., updated10 hours ago

The current avian flu epizootic is the “most devastating” in Europe in its entire history, European health authorities estimated on Tuesday, with more than 50 million birds slaughtered in infected farms alone between 2021 and 2022.

Faced like the rest of Europe with a catastrophic epizootic of avian flu which led to the slaughter of tens of millions of poultry on the continent, the French government set itself the objective on Thursday of launching the first vaccination of poultry in the fall of 2023. In France, from August 1 to December 21, 3.3 million animals have already been slaughtered, half of which are ducks. Two million were killed in December alone, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. “The objective that I set is an objective of being able to spend the 2023-2024 season with a vaccine, a vaccine strategy” , affirmed the Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, during a trip to representatives. of the agricultural sector in La Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée).

More than 50 million birds slaughtered in Europe

In the meantime, we must work to "safeguard the genetic heritage of the sector" and ensure that the compensation "goes quickly enough not to weaken the treasuries so much, that people are forced to stop their activity" , has insisted Marc Fesneau. At this stage, there is no sufficiently effective vaccine, with a marketing authorization, and even less European regulations authorizing vaccination. According to the schedule presented on Thursday, the first results of the laboratory experiments should be known around March 2023. During the same period, the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) will be required to present different “relevant vaccination scenarios”.

The French State will then try to define its vaccination strategy, quantify its cost, and determine who will pay. “If all the signals are green, in May, we will have functional, authorized vaccines, and an appropriate health and economic strategy,” he summarizes. "We have a minister who reassured us a little bit, because we see a calendar (...) which is programmed with really taking into account the difficulties that there may be on his way" , reacted Brice Guyau, president of the FDSEA in Vendée. “It is very important that as many animals as possible be vaccinated before the fall so that behind, we no longer have a virus that is circulating massively in our territory”, for his part insisted Pascal Sachot, spokesperson for the Confédération paysanne in Vendée

The bird flu epizootic is the “most devastating” in Europe in its entire history, European health authorities estimated on Tuesday, with more than 50 million birds slaughtered in infected farms alone between 2021 and 2022. Herders, psychologically and financially strained, would struggle to endure a devastating third winter, as the virus is becoming endemic on the continent. The acceleration of the spread of the virus is linked not only to the drop in temperatures, but also to the “high migratory activity of wild birds”, says the ministry. A total of 226 outbreaks have been recorded on farms since August 1. The epidemic continues in particular to ravage those located in Vendée (94 outbreaks), in Maine-et-Loire (38 outbreaks) and Deux-Sèvres (33 outbreaks).

Vaccine Race

The previous wave in France, between the end of November 2021 and mid-May 2022, had led to the euthanasia of more than 20 million poultry. But France cannot act alone, and its plan depends on authorizations at European and international levels. European regulations authorizing the principle of vaccination “should come into force at the end of February”, according to the government, whereas only a year ago, “professionals and stakeholders were directly opposed to it”.

However, there remains the risk that some importing countries will refuse to buy poultry or products from vaccinated birds, fearing that the vaccine will “mask” the presence of the disease and that the virus will then spread to them “low noise”. France will therefore have to conduct bilateral negotiations with its trading partners to get them to agree to import vaccinated chickens. A halt in French poultry exports would represent a loss of 500 million euros for the sector.

Five vaccines are now available worldwide, and only one has a marketing authorization in Europe for chickens, according to ANSES. However, it dates from 2006, “and the vaccine strain (…) has not been updated since”. Five European countries have embarked on the race for the vaccine, and most of the results of the experiments should be known in the first quarter of 2023. Two French laboratories including Ceva are working on a vaccine for waterfowl (ducks), while the Netherlands is working on a vaccine for chickens, and Italy for turkeys. “If we wait until May to start production, we will not be able to vaccinate in the fall” , notes however the ministry, which will therefore approach"companies concerned to see how to anticipate the deadline" - without saying more about its involvement at this stage.

https://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/...embre-20221222

 

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Avian flu: French poultry farmers plead for vaccination at European level

By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 3 hours ago, updated 3 hours ago

Faced with an “ unprecedented ” epizootic of avian influenza , the French interprofession of broiler poultry calls for vaccination “ throughout the European Union ” when the serum will be available, under penalty of generating trade distortions, in a press release issued tuesday. In France, where some 3.3 million animals have been slaughtered since August 1, the government has set itself the objective of launching the first vaccination of poultry in the fall of 2023.

Anvol, which brings together 20 organizations representing the sector, from hatching to distribution and catering, calls on the French State to implement " health diplomacy " and to " act so that vaccination against avian influenza be adopted throughout the European Union ". “ It would be incomprehensible if some EU Member States, major poultry producers, refused the European framework for vaccination and used this argument as a commercial advantage, ” stresses Anvol.

At this stage, there is no sufficiently effective vaccine with marketing authorization. European regulations authorizing the principle of vaccination " should come into force at the end of February ", according to the government, while only a year ago, " professionals and stakeholders were directly opposed to it ". Five European countries have entered the vaccine race. France and Hungary are working on a serum for waterfowl (ducks, geese), the Netherlands and Belgium for chickens and Italy for turkeys.

On the importer side, there is still the risk that some countries will refuse to buy poultry or products from vaccinated birds, fearing that the vaccine will mask the presence of the disease and that the virus will then spread to them quietly. While “ exports from the French poultry sector represent more than one billion euros per year ”, Anvol requires guarantees to preserve the economic balance of a sector whose “ exports represent more than 60% of the turnover of business ”.

" The closure of export markets to France would have disastrous consequences for certain territories in terms of employment ", according to the interprofession, which claims some 100,000 jobs in the country. France, the 2nd poultry producing country in the European Union in 2021, should drop to 4th place, behind Poland, Spain and Germany, with a supply down by almost 10% in 2022, the year marked by the outbreak of avian influenza, according to an estimate by Anvol in September.

https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/g...r-une-vaccination-au-niveau-europeen-20221227

 

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Avian flu: "We are working on a vaccination for September" promises the Minister of Agriculture

Gers
Of Marion Chantreau
Friday, February 10, 2023 at 9:02 a.m.
By France Blue Occitanie , France Blue

The Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, is visiting the Gers this Friday. Duck and poultry farmers are again affected this year by avian flu. The Minister wants to be reassuring for the future. Marc Fesneau was the guest of France Bleu Occitanie this Friday morning.
...
The vaccine, a "promising solution for September"

We are working on a protocol to allow vaccination in September. This vaccination brings a lot of hope to lessen these episodes of bird flu. There are four experiments in Europe at the moment , including one at the Toulouse veterinary school. We will look at which are the priority farms, the objective is that next season, we better cover the risk. In export, outside the European Union, countries do not agree with vaccination, but we are working on this point. There will be no concern for human consumption.
...
https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/pol...e-promet-le-ministre-de-l-agriculture-7974032

 

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ECONOMY
FEBRUARY 17, 20233:55 AM UPDATED 15 HOURS AGO

Long taboo, the idea of ​​a bird flu vaccine is gaining ground

By Sybille de La Hamaide

8 MIN READ


CASTELNAU-TURSAN, Landes (Reuters) - Hervé Dupouy, a duck farmer in the Landes, has had to have his ducks slaughtered four times since 2015 to prevent the spread of avian flu. Faced with a new murderous wave this year, he says to himself that it is time to resign himself to a solution that has long remained taboo: vaccination.

“The goal is that both our animals do not get sick and then that they do not spread the virus in the environment and suddenly that it does not contaminate the farms that are close to my farm”, he explains, adding: “I am not a breeder to recover dead animals.”

More and more governments around the world are backtracking on their opposition to the vaccine because culling or confining poultry is no longer enough to stem the waves of avian flu which, year after year, are decimating poultry flocks.

Since the start of last year, bird flu, or avian influenza, has led to the culling of more than 200 million birds, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO). These slaughters have in particular caused the price of eggs to soar, contributing to the world food crisis.

Beyond the cost represented by the death of millions of chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese, the scientific community and the States are worried about a virus, which if it became endemic, could mutate more and be transmitted to the male.

"This is why in all countries of the world there is concern about avian influenza," French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau told Reuters.

“There is no reason to panic but we must be edified by what has happened in history on these subjects. This is why we are concerned about vaccination globally.”

Mexico launched emergency vaccinations last year and Ecuador this month announced plans to inoculate more than two million birds with the vaccine after the virus infected a 9-year-old girl.

BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS

France intends to start vaccinating as early as September, said Marc Fesneau, hoping that a vaccination strategy on which birds to vaccinate, in which region, with which vaccine, can have been defined and that the vaccines are ready.

“It's a race against time,” he added.

At European Union level, an agreement was reached in 2022 to implement a common vaccination strategy within the Twenty-Seven.

Brussels has also harmonized its rules, which are due to take effect next month and ensure unhindered trade in poultry products and chicks within the EU bloc, a European Commission spokesperson said.

China, which consumes most of its poultry production, has been vaccinating against bird flu for nearly two decades and has managed to drastically reduce the number of outbreaks of the virus.

But the world's largest producer of poultry meat, the United States, continues to display its skepticism.

The country was the most affected by the last epidemic, with more than 58 million poultry slaughtered during the past year, ahead of Canada, while France, with more than around 20 million, was the most EU affected, OMSA data show.

The fear of trade restrictions remains at the heart of Washington's concerns.

While vaccines help reduce the mortality rate, some vaccinated birds can still contract the virus and pass it on, masking its spread.

It is for this reason that some large buyers of poultry meat or live birds prohibit imports from countries where vaccination is authorized, fearing that they will also import the virus.

The avian influenza virus is also capable of mutating rapidly, which reduces the effectiveness of vaccines, while vaccination campaigns are costly and time-consuming, injections often having to be administered one by one to each animal. And once vaccinated, poultry should continue to be monitored.

"Use of a vaccine at this time would have negative consequences for the poultry trade while continuing to require responses such as quarantine, depopulation and surveillance testing," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. at Reuters.

Faced with the restrictions imposed on the trade in vaccinated poultry, bilateral negotiations are necessary to authorize exports to these markets and avoid distortions of competition, insists Philippe Gélin, general manager of French LDC, one of the European leaders in poultry. .

According to Marc Fesneau, Paris is negotiating with its partners outside the EU to authorize the export of vaccinated poultry. Discussions are also under way at EU level with third countries.

“AVOID MASSIVE DISTRIBUTION”

Brazil, the world's largest exporter of poultry, has so far escaped the epidemic but the virus is present in several neighboring countries, such as Bolivia.

For France, which spent 1.1 billion euros last year to compensate farms, the time has come to move on to vaccination.

“These are huge economic losses,” notes Gilles Salvat, Deputy Director General of ANSES, the National Food Safety Agency.

“One-time introductions via wildlife or via a contaminated environment will not be avoided. On the other hand, what we want to avoid is that these punctual introductions do not become massive diffusions over the whole of a territory”, he says.

As part of the European strategy, France is undertaking vaccination tests on ducks, which are very sensitive to contamination by the virus and can remain asymptomatic for several days, which increases the risk of transmission to other farms.

The Netherlands is testing vaccines on laying hens, Italy on turkeys and Hungary on Peking ducks. Results are expected in the coming months.

Ceva Santé Animale, a French veterinary pharmaceutical group, which is one of the main groups, with the German Boehringer, to develop vaccines against avian flu, considers the first results “very promising”, in particular because they show a reduction significant shedding of the virus by infected animals.

Ceva specifies that it is using messenger RNA technology for the first time, the same one that is used for certain vaccines against COVID-19.

The global market for avian flu vaccines would represent 800 million to one billion doses per year, excluding China, estimates Sylvain Comte, poultry marketing director at Ceva.

Even though the risk of transmission to humans remains low, and there has never been a proven case of human-to-human transmission, countries must prepare for any changes, the World Health Organization has warned. (WHO) last week.

The H5N1 virus strain, prevalent in the latest outbreak, has killed several mammals this season, including mink in Spain, foxes and otters in Britain, a cat in France and bears in the United States.

“Without being alarmist, we should be careful and not let this virus circulate too intensely and for too long”, assures Gilles Salvat.

https://www.reuters.com/article/sante-grippe-aviaire-vaccins-idFRKBN2UR0M6

 

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04/06/2023—expertise


5 min
VETERINARY DRUGS
ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE



Avian influenza: 3 vaccination scenarios for poultry


The recurrence of health crises linked to avian influenza and their increasing scale require the strengthening of preventive actions in French poultry farms. Vaccination of poultry is thus envisaged, in addition to the biosecurity measures already in place on farms. To help the public authorities establish a vaccination strategy that could be implemented as early as autumn 2023, ANSES is proposing three preventive vaccination scenarios. They aim to protect the poultry sectors and limit the spread of the virus by prioritizing, according to the means of vaccination available, the types of farms and the species to be vaccinated.


A crisis of unprecedented magnitude

France, like many other countries in the world, has experienced several major crises of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in recent years. That of 2021-2022 was particularly severe, leading to the elimination of more than 21 million poultry and jeopardizing the French avian genetic heritage. In addition, endemization (persistence of the virus throughout the year) in wild birds in many places in the national territory is now strongly suspected.
Vaccination of poultry should be considered with a view to complementing the implementation of preventive biosecurity measures in the field such as confinement of animals, limitation of transfers of birds, disinfection or change of clothing and equipment. from one farm to another, etc. To date, only one vaccine for hens (species Gallus gallus) has a marketing authorization in France. Applications for marketing authorization or temporary authorization to use vaccines for several poultry species have recently been submitted and are currently being assessed by the National Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Adopt a preventive vaccination strategy

An emergency vaccination strategy is not considered scientifically relevant. The Agency proposes that the vaccination strategy to be put in place in autumn 2023 be carried out on a preventive basis and that it has several objectives:

1. anticipating epizootic outbreaks in order to avoid a massive spread of HPAI from contaminated homes;
2. protect the poultry sectors by preserving the genetic heritage present in the territory and, therefore, the ability to restart production after a possible epizootic.

In general, vaccinating the most exposed poultry will also limit the multiplication of the virus and the risk of mutation to prevent it from adapting to mammals and humans.
“We did not opt ​​for emergency vaccination because of the excessive delays between the vaccination of the animal and its protection against the virus, the delay for this immunity having been estimated at 3 to 4 weeks. In addition, vaccinating animals in the midst of an epizootic tends to increase the flow of people to the farms and therefore the risk of biosecurity breaches and the introduction of HPAI into these farms" specifies Caroline Boudergue, assistant to the Head of Unit Assessment of risks related to the welfare, health and nutrition of animals and vectors at ANSES.

Prioritize the types of livestock and the poultry species to be vaccinated

To construct this strategy, three scenarios are proposed with regard to the risks of introduction and spread of HPAI. These scenarios were established using a graduated approach, depending on the means available for vaccination:

1. Scenario 1 : vaccinate the animals on the farms providing selection and multiplication for all sectors (see box). This step has the advantage of requiring a limited number of doses of vaccine. It also makes it possible to protect the French poultry sectors from the impacts of a new epizootic by preserving the genetic potential as well as the ability to put animals back into production farming after the epizootic;
2. Scenario 2 : vaccinate, on production farms, waterfowl (ducks and geese) ready to force-feed and other waterfowl reared outdoors, turkeys reared outdoors and future laying pullets intended for the outdoors. The objective is to limit the extent of epizootics by targeting the productions most at risk of introduction and spread of the virus. This scenario requires greater availability of vaccines than scenario 1;
3. scenario 3 : if the availability of vaccines allows it, vaccination of palmipeds for roasting and turkeys raised in confinement (in buildings), meat galliforms raised in the open air other than those listed for scenario 2 and laying hens raised in outdoors.

Four conditions to be met to ensure the effectiveness of these scenarios

The effectiveness of the proposed scenarios is based on the following assumptions and conditions:

1. in autumn 2023, the epidemiological context is identical to that which exists today (H5N1 viral strain similar to that which circulated during the 2022-2023 season);
2. the supply of vaccines available makes it possible to vaccinate each of the species and induces collective immunity;
3. the vaccine strategy is consistent with the time taken to acquire immunity after administration of the vaccine and with the duration of vaccine protection;
4. the vaccination strategy is compatible with farming practices, particularly from a logistical and economic point of view.

A decision support tool

The purpose of this work is to help public authorities and professionals in the poultry sector to build a vaccination strategy.

In this opinion, we have voluntarily taken into account the only scientific aspect to meet the health objectives . It is now up to the competent authorities to take up the subject and decide on the measures to be taken according to other criteria such as the reality on the ground, the financial aspect, the availability of vaccines, the regulations, the human resources necessary to vaccination, etc.



CAROLINE BOUDERGUES


DEPUTY HEAD OF THE ASSESSMENT OF RISKS RELATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE, HEALTH AND FOOD AND VECTORS UNIT AT ANSES


Vaccination, one measure among others

Finally, the Agency recalls that vaccination is only one of the tools for combating HPAI. Proper application of biosecurity measures in poultry farming remains the most effective measure to prevent the introduction and spread of HPAI within and between farms. These measures therefore remain essential and vaccination does not replace them.

In addition, vaccination, if implemented, will require a reinforced surveillance protocol for vaccinated farms in order to detect and eliminate as quickly as possible those which nevertheless prove to be infected.

...
https://www.anses.fr/fr/influenza-aviaire-scenarios-vaccination-volailles​

 

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Avian flu vaccine: "breeders are wary of too good promises" according to a veterinarian

France Blue Bearn Bigorre
Of Flora Catala
Monday, April 10, 2023 at 8:15 a.m. - Updated Monday, April 10, 2023 at 10:13 AM
By France Blue Bearn Bigorre

A first vaccination against avian flu is expected this fall in France: the State has already ordered doses and instructed the health authorities to establish possible vaccination protocols, until a vaccine is available.

The hope of a vaccine is materializing to overcome avian flu: France would like to be able to start vaccinating poultry before winter, starting this fall. Even if the experiments are still in progress, with results expected in the coming weeks, the State has already ordered 80 million doses , and ANSES, the national health security agency, has worked on three possible vaccination scenarios. , depending on the quantities of vaccines available

François Landais, veterinarian specializing in waterfowl and co-manager of the Abiopole clinic in Arzacq-Arraziguet , wants to believe in the outcome of these protocols: "nobody in the field imagines going through an additional crisis, one more winter, we have to being able to be a game changer and have that extra tool," he says. The health authorities plan to prevent rather than cure, that is to say preventive vaccination and not emergency. A better solution according to François Landais, "emergency vaccination does not seem realistic with a virus that is spreading far too quickly" .

Breeders between relief and questions

This vaccination, the Béarnais breeders are waiting for it resolutely according to François Landais, "they are in a psychological state which is sometimes very complicated, even if the winter went a little better in terms of health, it was very complicated. from an economic point of view here" .

Only, some breeders remain a little cautious . "Scalded cat fears cold water" points out François Landais. "The breeders have made enormous efforts, have taken additional measures from year to year, they have been promised each time that it would help to manage the situation, but that has not always been the case. So they are wary too beautiful a promise that would be made with vaccination, and they are right to do so. Vaccination is not a miracle solution, it is an additional tool" .

Vaccination does not mean that biosecurity measures will be lifted . They are "essential for the implementation of vaccination" explains François Landais. "One cannot work without the other. We can draw a parallel with the Covid vaccination: it does not prevent catching the virus, but makes the risk of dissemination much lower. The vaccine will make treated animals less contagious, less likely to spread the virus massively . "

As for the fears of consumers, who could be reluctant in the face of vaccinated meat , François Landais says he understands their fear, but insists that it is not scientifically founded. Vaccines are tested, analyzed, studied so that there is no risk. "We really need to have communication geared towards the consumer, towards citizens, and which dispel their fears" .

https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions...miracle-selon-un-veterinaire-bearnais-6995262

 

[Mary Wilson]

Please See:
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...acking-outbreaks-forum/972522-avian-influenza

...Vaccination alone is not the solution to the control of HPAI if eradication is the desired result. Without the application of monitoring systems, strict biosecurity and depopulation in the face of infection, HPAI will become endemic in vaccinated poultry populations. Long-term circulation of the virus in a vaccinated population may result in both antigenic and genetic changes as has occurred with H5Nx (Gs/GD lineage), H7N3, H7N9 and H9N2 influenza A viruses ...

 

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May 11, 2023 Info +

Vaccination experiment on farmed mule ducks against an HPAI virus – Interim report

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty initiated an experiment in May 2022 to test vaccines on mule ducks to protect them from avian influenza. The objective is to have scientific proof as to the effectiveness and interest of vaccination against the virus.

The experiment is governed by an agreement signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, ANSES (Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, ENVT (National Veterinary School of Toulouse), the CIFOG (Comité interprofessionnel des palmipèdes à foie gras), the laboratories that made two candidate vaccines available (Boehringer Ingelheim animal health and Ceva animal health), as well as the regions of Brittany, New Aquitaine, Occitanie and Pays de la Loire which contributed to financing.

This experiment took place in two phases: a first phase in field conditions and a second phase in the confined animal facilities of ANSES's National Reference Laboratory in Ploufragan (NRL).

An interim report presents the results of the field and animal facility component regarding the ability of the vaccines studied to confer clinical protection and reduce viral shedding. These first results show good efficacy of the vaccines tested on mule ducks.

This report will soon be supplemented by the results concerning the capacity of the vaccines studied to slow down the transmission of the virus within a population of vaccinated ducks.

Report - “Experimental evaluation of clinical protection and viral excretion”pdf - 2.15 MB

------------

Excerpt from the report:

4. CONCLUSION

Trials under field conditions have made it possible to assess the feasibility of vaccination under conditions
very close to the application in a commercial context. The vaccination protocols recommended by the
laboratories producing the two vaccine solutions could be implemented without difficulty
particular and without any undesirable effects. Serological monitoring revealed a
seroconversion from the booster (4 weeks), a peak at 8 weeks and a decrease in titers from
from the age of 10 weeks.

The experimental trials reported were intended to verify that the two vaccines tested, used
under field conditions, were effective in mule ducks to provide protection
clinical and the decrease in viral excretion at 7 weeks and 11 weeks of age compared to a
challenge with an HPAI A/chicken/France/D2107428/2021 (H5N1) virus of clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype
virus that is still circulating in Europe today.

The few clinical signs obtained after inoculation of the test strain under the conditions
experimental methods used, including in unvaccinated mule ducks, can only obtain
few elements relating to clinical protection. Nevertheless, the only clinical signs observed
been in unvaccinated subjects.

The results of the serological tests used (ELISA against the NP and H5 proteins, or the IHA against
vaccine antigen for vaccine B) showed that these combined methods could be used
at lot level to differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. The ELISA NP allows
to detect infections with avian influenza viruses and ELISA H5 or IHA, with the antigen
homolog of the vaccine virus, makes it possible to detect animals vaccinated and/or infected with viruses
avian influenza subtype H5.

Finally, and most importantly, with regard to the prospects for control of a
epizootic, the two candidate vaccines tested have demonstrated, under experimental conditions
used, their ability to significantly reduce the levels and duration of virus excretion
test, by the respiratory and digestive routes, in vaccinated subjects. Reduced excretion
observed, greater after virulent challenge at 7 weeks of age, remains significant at 11
weeks of age.

Following these first positive results, it is now important to assess the ability of the two candidates
vaccines to limit the direct and indirect transmission of the challenge virus in vaccinated animals,
in the context of transmission trials carried out at 7 and 11 weeks of age: it is indeed essential to
verify that the levels of shedding reduction reported here are sufficient to limit viral spread
in populations that would be vaccinated.

The transmission test at 7 weeks of age, already carried out and at the end of operation, will be the subject of a report.
separated before the summer. The transmission trial at 11 weeks of age, added to the work program of the
study agreement due to the first results obtained and presented here, will be carried out by
fall 2023.​


https://agriculture.gouv.fr/experim...lards-en-elevage-contre-un-virus-iahp-rapport​
​

 

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Avian flu: vaccination could start in October according to the foie gras interprofession

By Joan of Butler
Monday, May 22, 2023 at 12:25 p.m.
...

The general manager of Cifog Marie-Pierre Pé was the guest of France Bleu Périgord this Monday, May 22. She mentioned the introduction of vaccination before the fall to fight against avian flu.

“The date of October 1 has been announced, we hope that it could be brought forward ,” said Marie-Pierre Pé, the general manager of Cifog, the interprofession of palmipeds with foie gras, on France Bleu Périgord on Monday. While cases of avian flu have exploded in the Gers and Landes in recent weeks, we should know in the coming days the government's vaccination strategy to fight against avian flu.

One of the solutions

There are still several steps to go through before the actual vaccination of the animals . The government has launched a call for tenders for the production of vaccines, the results of the experiments on poultry are also awaited. The strategy must also be refined : should the ducks, which are the most fragile, be vaccinated, or should the vaccination be extended to other species? The question of funding also needs to be defined. “When we have the first estimates, there is the cost of the vaccine, but also the cost of its administration by vaccinators and veterinarians, and also monitoring. There must be support for the first year. sector will not be able to support it alone" , maintains Marie-Pierre Pé.

The vaccine will not be a panacea either, explains Marie-Pierre Pé. "It's an additional tool in the toolbox that we have. Rule number 1 is still biosecurity" .

...


https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/agr...-selon-l-interprofession-du-foie-gras-9489097