USDA Develops Potential Poultry Vaccination Plan Amid Bird Flu Crisis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing its first potential plan to vaccinate poultry against bird flu in response to the nation's worst animal-health emergency, which has led to the culling of nearly 175 million birds since 2022 and driven egg prices to record highs. The USDA is collaborating with federal, state, and industry officials to finalize a vaccination strategy by July that considers the impact on exports and aims to reassure trading partners amid concerns that vaccinations might result in trade bans. The plan follows proposals from egg and turkey producers severely affected by the virus, though it faces opposition from chicken meat producers worried about possible export restrictions. The agency has committed up to $100 million for research into vaccines and other therapies to combat the outbreak. Experts emphasize that vaccines may reduce disease severity but not completely prevent infections, highlighting the need for vaccines that can differentiate infected from vaccinated birds to maintain surveillance. Balancing benefits across different poultry commodities remains a critical challenge in the vaccination effort.