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Iowa turkey leader points to Europe as model for avian flu protection
The executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation suggests the U.S. should follow the lead of countries that vaccinate flocks for highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Gretta Irwin tells Brownfield domestic growers want to be able to do more to protect birds against HPAI.
“Recently I did have the opportunity to go to France and see how they are vaccinating their ducks for high-path AI. So we’re seeing other countries adapting that technology to protect those farmers (and) protect that production domestically.”
She says England has begun adopting a vaccine for turkeys and she hopes that carries over to the U.S.
“This is a safe technology, there are safe protocols that we can measure this. And in our industry, we’re really asking for the migration seasons. We don’t need to vaccinate all year long, but when that risk is present when birds are migrating, give us that tool to vaccinate just so we do not have these losses.”
Irwin says the primary reason the U.S. can’t vaccinate for avian flu is because of international trade restrictions that could ban American poultry exports.
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Frankly, consumers have shown they do not want food that comes from animals vaccinated with MRNA vaccines! We need to do more research into alternative methods to control influenza. The virus will always evade vaccines!
A recent study about the duck vaccination program in France shows only 40-45% efficacy and that is only if the vaccination regimen is followed. I think far more vetting is needed in order to move forward with a similar program in the US.