Strict measures in combination with the long-term penning of poultry will not prevent hundreds of thousands of animals from having to be culled every year on infected and suspect farms because of bird flu. The veterinary organization KNMvD is therefore advocating that poultry be vaccinated against bird flu as soon as possible.
The number of bird flu outbreaks on poultry farms in Europe has increased sharply in recent years. The situation is almost endemic and the current control measures are no longer sufficient. Thanks to adequate action by various parties such as the poultry sector, government and poultry veterinarians, bird flu infections have so far been identified in time on individual farms.
Due to trade restrictions for vaccinated animals and the lack of a registered vaccine, vaccination against bird flu is currently not used. These trade restrictions prevent the rapid introduction of a vaccine. Together with the other countries in the European Union, a solution must be found as soon as possible.
There is still insufficient knowledge about the use of the currently available vaccines in field situations, in particular whether the vaccine can prevent virus spread and outbreaks. An avian flu vaccine must be effective against current circulating influenza strains and will need to be rapidly updated as the virus evolves. Additional research is needed to test the effectiveness of current and future bird flu vaccines in experimental studies and in field situations.
In addition to vaccination, it is wise to continue to pay attention to several additional measures to prevent bird flu outbreaks. Think of increasing industrial hygiene and visitor bans in poultry houses.
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