A hen flu vaccination marketing campaign launched in France in 2023 has enabled the nation’s poultry manufacturing to recuperate to ranges not seen since outbreaks of the virus worn out tens of hundreds of thousands of birds, producers mentioned.
Avian influenza (HPAI), or hen flu, is a viral illness that has ravaged poultry flocks worldwide in recent times. There has additionally been proof of transmission past birds, together with dairy cows and farm staff in the USA.
France requires vaccination of geese, probably the most delicate species to the virus, making it the world’s first massive poultry exporter to launch a nationwide hen flu vaccine marketing campaign.
However some international locations have put restrictions on French imports in consequence – involved that vaccinated birds pose a threat as they could not present indicators of an infection, that means it’s inconceivable to find out whether or not the virus is in a flock.
‘Vaccination Is A Success’
Regardless of such commerce considerations, the chair of French poultry trade group Anvol, Jean-Michel Schaeffer, mentioned “vaccination is a hit”.
“Between final 12 months and this 12 months, all species are growing as a result of we have now averted main well being crises. This has allowed farmers to return to full manufacturing,” he instructed reporters.
In 2024, French poultry output rose 12.1% from the earlier 12 months after gaining 2% versus 2022. It’s now 1.1% above the “pre-crisis degree” of 2019, a 12 months with comparatively few hen flu outbreaks, Anvol mentioned.
The French poultry producers’ feedback come days after the US Division of Agriculture (USDA) gave conditional approval to Zoetis to make use of its hen flu vaccine in poultry.
The US had constructed a poultry vaccine stockpile after main hen flu outbreaks in 2014 and 2015, although the vaccines have been by no means used attributable to commerce considerations.
