Poultry Farmers Urged To Use Extra Bio-Security To Prevent Avian Influenza

The USDA says poultry farmers need to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of the H5N2 virus or avian influenza.

During a recent press conference, Dr. David Swayne, from the USDA's Southeast Poultry Research Lab, said the USDA is working with the Centers for Biologics to develop a vaccine, but it is still early days. He said however, it is imperative poultry farmers continue to practice good biohazard procedures.

"We are working on a potential vaccine strain that can be used as an inactivated vaccine. We're making progress on this, but it's a multi-step process," he said. "Once we complete our work, which will include testing on chickens and turkeys, the decision to use that vaccine will only be made if it's necessary in the regulatory process of the eradication. So the process of using vaccines will only be decided by the Animal Plant Protection Service in consultation with the State lab."