Harrisvaccines, based in Ames, Iowa, announced it is the first company to receive a USDA conditional license for a vaccine against avian influenza, the disease that killed 10 percent of egg-laying hens earlier this year and drove egg prices to record levels. Officials say a new outbreak is possible this fall when wildfowl migrate south. The highly pathogenic avian influenza can kill a flock in 48 hours. “This is an important first step in implementing a vaccine strategy by the USDA,” said the company.
“While Harrisvaccine has approval to manufacture the vaccine, the company does not have approval to sell it,” said DTN. “Producers will have to wait for USDA approval for Harrisvaccine to begin vaccinating commercial flocks. One reason USDA is holding off on sales of the vaccine is because foreign markets for U.S. poultry products have indicated they would ban poultry from any vaccinated flocks.”