The development of avian influenza vaccines for emergency use

Authors

  • T.R. Mickle
  • D.E. Swayne
  • N. Pritchard

Abstract

Costly outbreaks of mildly and highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) have occurred in the commercial poultry industry in Europe and the United States in the past two years. The current approach is to control the disease by depopulation of infected flocks followed by cleaning and disinfection of the premises. The cost of eradication of influenza and the payments to the poultry producer continue to increase. The cost of the AI eradication in the Netherlands and the United States was more than 500 million USD. The use of vaccines to control AI is gaining acceptance by veterinary health agencies as a tool in eradication programmes. The choice of vaccines available includes purified subunit vaccines, genetically modified vaccines and the traditional whole-virus inactivated vaccines. The use of inactivated vaccines has been used successfully in many countries to stop the spread of avian influenza in the poultry industry. The fowlpox-vectored vaccine TROVAC AI H5â„¢ has been used to vaccinate broiler chickens in Mexico for five years. The preparation of a supply of vaccine in advance of a disease outbreak has been used in the human health sector. A vaccine bank was created at Merial for foot-and-mouth disease more than 10 years ago. The idea of developing a vaccine bank for avian influenza is being discussed in the United States and in the European Union. Before a strategic plan for AI vaccines can be implemented, many questions about the AI strains needed, the amount of vaccine, the formulation, the priority of vaccination in the poultry industry and the cost to produce and maintain stored antigens or vaccines need to be addressed.

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Published

2005-06-01