Highly pathogenic avian influenza-emergency response and vaccination for control

Authors: Suarez, David; Spackman, Erica; Lee, Chang

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The largest animal disease outbreak in the U.S. was the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in poultry, which has affected close to 100 million birds. Recently the H5N1 HPAI 2.3.4.4b virus was also reported in dairy cows. The virus can replicate to high titer in the mammary gland with large amounts of virus in milk. There has been considerable concern about the potential for live HPAI virus being found in milk, and surveys have identified live virus in bulk milk tank samples before pasteurization. Fortunately, available data supports that pasteurization effectively inactivates virus and a recent retail milk survey showed evidence of viral RNA, but no live virus. This supports that pasteurized milk is safe, but there is a potential for human exposure in consumption of raw milk and by the farm workers working with infected cows. Currently there have been three human cases. The outbreak in dairy cows appear to directly spill over to poultry, in part because of the different rules for the control of the disease. The ideal control of the outbreak remains unclear, but more interest in vaccination for both poultry and cattle have been raised. Several different licensed vaccines are available that have been shown experimentally to work in chickens and turkeys. Unfortunately, vaccination is likely to negatively effect export of poultry. The potential of DIVA surveillance to allow safe trade of poultry products is being explored and may provide an avenue for future vaccination and trade.