USDA conducts avian influenza vaccine trials

Apr 19, 2023

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it is conducting trials for a new avian influenza vaccine. The vaccine is designed to prevent the spread of avian flu, a highly contagious disease that can have devastating impacts on the poultry industry.

Avian flu outbreaks can cause significant economic losses for poultry producers, as infected birds must be culled in order to prevent the spread of the disease. The development of a new vaccine could help to prevent outbreaks from occurring in the first place, potentially saving millions of dollars in losses for the industry.

According to USDA officials, the new vaccine is being developed using a novel approach that targets a specific part of the avian flu virus. The vaccine is designed to be highly effective and to provide long-lasting protection against the disease.

The trials are being conducted in partnership with several poultry producers across the country. If successful, the vaccine could be made available to producers in the near future, providing a valuable tool in the fight against avian flu and helping to protect the health and wellbeing of both poultry and humans.

The development of a new avian influenza vaccine represents an important step forward in protecting the poultry industry and preventing the spread of a potentially devastating disease. With continued research and development, we can hope to see even more effective and innovative solutions to the challenges facing the agriculture industry.

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.