New NDV-H5NX avian influenza vaccine has potential for mass vaccination of poultry.

Researchers have developed and tested a new vaccine that protects chickens and other poultry from multiple strains of avian influenza found in the U.S., including H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8. A team of researchers at Kansas State University, in collaboration with Garcia-Sastre of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has developed a vaccine that protects poultry from multiple strains of avian influenza found in the U.S., including H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8. The vaccine has the potential to be administered through water or into embryonated eggs, making it easier for poultry producers to vaccinate flocks.The vaccine, called NDV-H5Nx, protects chickens and likely other poultry against the three recently introduced U.S. avian influenza strains H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8, as well as against Newcastle disease virus -- a virus that naturally affects poultry. Avian influenza killed millions of chickens and turkeys in the U.S. in spring and summer 2015, leading to billions in lost revenue for the U.S. poultry industry. The NDV-H5Nx vaccine also has the potential to be administered to millions of birds at a time through water, said Jürgen Richt, Regents distinguished professor of veterinary medicine, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases at Kansas State University and one of the researchers involved in the discovery. "The vaccine we produced is a live vaccine, which means it replicates in birds," Richt said. "Because it's live, we believe that the vaccine could be sprayed into the air or put in the water supply so that when the chickens need a drink, they could be vaccinated. A poultry farm could vaccinate all of its birds in a single day because all living creatures need water to live." The vaccine also has potential to be administered to developing chicks in eggs, resulting in offspring being automatically vaccinated for the diseases, said Wenjun Ma, Kansas State University assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and patho biology and one of the researchers involved. The NDV-H5Nx vaccine has the ability to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals, or DIVA. This compatibility is critical for the U.S. poultry industry because it provides evidence to trade partners that poultry have been vaccinated and is free of H5, Richt said. H5 vaccines currently on the market require that each chicken be injected by hand. Many poultry operations have millions of birds and it would take many hours to vaccinate every chicken, Richt said.This is a major advantage as many birds can be vaccinated per time. Story source; science daily.

AVIAN INFLUENZA TODAY.

The bird flu virus is still very much around,do not let down your guard.Stop the virus now..................The U.S.D.A has developed a vaccine to protect poultry from new strain H5N2 but dont have plans to make vaccine commercial.

BIRD FLU WATCH.

H7N9 kills 2 people in China,Taiwan battles worst H5N2 outbreak and Egypt report 3rd bird flu death in 2015. The ever changing bird flu virus makes it a potential global threat in terms of economic loss and also death of man. The capacity of the virus to mutate enables it to cross species and cause fulminating infection in these species, this is the reason why it poses a pandemic threat. The bird flu virus infection has been linked to wild birds/waterbirds and migratory birds which act as reservoir .The key prevention will be to keep wild birds away from poultry.These can be achieved as by the following measures ; do not handle birds of unknown origin, dont touch dead birds, wash hands immediately after handling poultry, do not buy processed birds from unknown origin, if you observe high mortality in poultry in your area notify vet authorities in your area. The surveillance of live bird markets, farms and control/border points are paramount in the preventive measure. BE ALERT! BE PROACTIVE ! STOP BIRD FLU VIRUS!.

H5N2 AND H5N8.

The highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza detected in Taiwan is a new H5 variant. The H5N8 and H5N2 strains identified are new in Taiwan.The confirmed cases of infection was in 14 farms,number of cases have jumped from 20 to 64 with another 31 farms under surveillance. There has been a total of 112,375 culled ducks,geese and chicken.The detection of H5 subtypes in Taiwan indicates that virus has crossed from waterfowl to chickens.The director of the bureau of animal and plant health inspection and quarantine has stated that as from 18/1/15, no poultry can be processed in the abattoir without approval.The H5N2/H5N8 strains observed in Taiwan shows an interaction between domestic waterfowl and migratory birds. The role of migratory birds in transmission of the bird flu virus cannot be overemphasized, so its very important to keep your poultry away from migratory birds/wild birds. BE PROACTIVE! STOP THE VIRUS! USE VIRKON® S.

BIRD FLU UPDATE.

The highly pathogenic influenza virus has affected more backyard poultry in Washington.The virus has been discovered on 2 farms with mixed specie of birds such as: chicken,turkey,ducks and guinea fowls. The birds died from H5N2 strain of the virus, and all others on the farms have been destroyed to prevent spread. The source of infection has been traced to contact with feces of infected wild ducks.This mode of transmission is easy especially in free range flocks that come in contact with wild birds.The detection of H5N2 strain of the influenza virus in a northern pin tail duck in Whatcom country in December confirmed the bird flu virus infection. The farm, and a 20 mile zone around it has been quarantined at least for 240 days, the quarantine prohibits movement of eggs, poultry/ poultry products outside the zone.The farm has also been disinfected with deep cleaning of equipment. BE PROACTIVE! STEP UP YOUR BIO-SECURITY PROTOCOL. USE

Avian influenza: Emerging infectious disease.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)A virus subtype H5,have been circulating among poultry in several countries in Asia and Africa for many years. The HPAI virus have caused hundreds of infections in humans and has poised public health threat.This prompted the government of China to embark on mass vaccination of flock and culling of infected birds. The protocol was effective because the virus was curtailed,thus saving lives and preserving animal production lines, but it had some major disadvantages. The protocol is expensive, and the government is currently seeking ways to stop the mass vaccination.The key disadvantage was that subclinical levels of HPAI was found among vaccinated chicken,where the H5N1 had evolved into multiple H5N2 genotypes which are all vaccine-escape variants.(emerging infections journal vol 20. Num 12-Dec 2014) The vaccination played an important role at the onset,but resulted in production of other variants that are highly pathogenic and pose a more fatal threat .This clearly shows that vaccination of flock is not the way to combat the virus, rather education of the populace,bio security,surveillance,rapid diagnosis and culling/destruction of infected birds.

BIRD FLU.

STOP THE VIRUS ! SAVE THE BIRDS.

BIRD FLU.

The bird flu saga continues, as the virus has been identified in birds in backyard poultry in Washington state and Oregon. The highly pathogenic strain has been identified in broiler chicken and turkeys in BC,Canada.The viral infection has led to culling of 42000 birds in Japan as @ 30/12/14, leading to banning of poultry products and birds originating from japan. The banning of poultry products has also extended to the U.S.A as some countries have opted out of importing from them. A second wave of infection has been reported in Washington state, in a farm near the foci infection, and this has been traced to some ducks moved from the foci of infection to this new farm.The 2 farmers are friends so they exchange birds,without knowledge that the ducks had the virus,leading to sudden deaths of birds in this new farm. This has prompted the UTAH,U.S. agric and wildlife authorities to issue a bird flu alert to back yard poultry farmers in the state; advising them to increase their bio security measures.The Utah state is on course of a migratory bird route,thus they enjoined farmers to keep wild birds away from poultry. BIRD FLU UPDATE; based on the flu infection in some parts of the world, the most logical thing will be to be pro active and step up bio security in our farms. BIO SECURITY; the following actions are advised. 1) Restrict movement to your farms. 2)Make a full strength of bleach- water solution and use as foot dips, tyre wash, use in drains ,also use to clean surfaces in the farm. 3)Dont bring in birds from unknown sources, and dont transfer birds between farms. 4) keep poultry away from wild birds and water fowl. 5) Report any case of sudden high motalities in your birds. Be alert and sensitive; step up bio security. Thanks to the poultrysite.com.

BIRD FLU.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported in Canada,backyard poultry in Oregon(U.S.A) ,some parts of Europe and India. The cases has involved humans aside waterfowl, crow and the chicken.The strains identified varies with the countries affected but majorly the H5 variants has been identified. BIO-SECURITY measures should be strictly complied with,and monitoring/surveillance should also be emphasized.The importation of poultry products at this time should be avoided,day old chicks,dressed poultry from such affected countries should be prohibited. The bird flu saga is still so fresh in our memory,lets hype up our BIO-SECURITY MEASURES AND BE ALERT. The is gradually coming to an end and the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is trending according to a report in THE POULTRY SITE.COM: 2014 Ends with Bird Flu Fears As we approach the holiday season, highly pathogenic (high-path) avian flu outbreaks in poultry and other birds are much in the news across North America, Europe and Asia. In the last week, India has confirmed that the virus affecting waterfowl in Chandigarh is the high-path H5N1 type. While several cases in people in the area are suspected, none has yet been confirmed. Suspicious deaths of wild crows in the state of Haryana are also under investigation. A new outbreak of avian flu of an H5 subtype has been reported in a village poultry flock in central VietNam. This is thought to be the H5N1 variant. Canada has now reported a total of 11 outbreaks with the high-path H5N2 virus in commercial poultry and one in a backyard flock, all in the same region of the province of British Columbia. THE United States has reported its first outbreak of high-path H5N8 avian flu a backyard poultry flock in Oregon, while the H5N2 virus has been detected in wild ducks in Washington state, close to the border with Canada. Following a new outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza at a duck farm in Germany in the state of Lower Saxony, the federal agriculture ministry has ordered a veterinary inspection of all ducks and geese before transportation. In mid-December, there was an outbreak of high-path avian influenza of the H5N8 subtype in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy but there have been no further cases since then.