High Path Avian Flu Update – What’s Next? | Market Intel

Since the first case of the 2022/2023 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak was detected in the United States – in a flock of turkeys – on February 7, 2022, the virus has affected 58.8 million birds in 831 herds in 47 states. All levels of the supply chain have felt the effects of HPAI, from the farmer facing the risk of depopulation, to the consumer who is paying record prices for eggs and turkey due to an increased supply. restricted. This Intel marketplace provides an update on the state of HPAI in the United States, including actions taken by the USDA and steps that could be taken to mitigate the risks and impacts of HPAI in the states -United.

So now

THE current epidemic of HPAI H5N1 is very different from H5N2 epidemic in 2015. The first case of the 2015 outbreak occurred on December 11, 2014, with the last detection occurring on June 16, 2015. Afterwards, the virus accelerated rapidly. Birds affected rose from 0 to 30 million in the first nine weeks. A total of 211 commercial detections took place, as well as 21 detections in backyard farms. About 43 million laying hens/pullets and 7.4 million turkeys were affected in 21 states over a period of about seven months.

The current outbreak is different from the 2015 outbreak in several ways. First, the current outbreak is about twice as long as that of 2015. Second, there have been many more birds affected overall, as well as more backyard flock detections in the outbreak. current. Some of this may be the result of an increase in backyard herds during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The HPAI H5N1 virus strain has been circulating around the world for many years and continues to evolve into different groups called “clades”. The current clade, 2.3.4.4b, was first detected in wild birds in the United States in late 2021 and is well adapted to spread among wild birds and poultry. This is a new wildlife virus and strains may continue to evolve. Migratory waterfowl, specifically dabbling or puddle ducks, are the main vector of the virus. Dabbling ducks, like mallards and teals, are shallow water ducks that forage near the surface by dipping headfirst into the water to graze on vegetation and insects. The H5N1 virus was found much less in other types of migratory waterfowl.

Answer

The USDA continues to take a reactive approach to mitigating the spread of HPAI. Reactive measures were able to contain the virus until detections waned. Now the amount of virus found in wild birds is staggering. The USDA has stated that 85% of HPAI is introduced into a flock by outside factors such as wild birds, while only 15% is introduced by lateral movement (from house to house). The USDA is unable to quantify the number of cases that biosecurity prevents from entering barns. Although these reactive measures have been effective, this disease is no longer seen as something that comes and goes, it is seen as a long-term problem.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has three goals for its answer your HPAI:

1) Detect, control and contain HPAI in poultry as quickly as possible.

2) Eradicate the HPAI virus using public health and environmental protection strategies, and stabilize animal husbandry, food supply and the economy.

3) Provide science- and risk-based approaches and systems to facilitate business continuity for uninfected animals and uncontaminated animal products.

APHIS follows three principles to contain, control and eradicate HPAI in the US poultry population:

1) Prevent contact between the HPAI virus and susceptible poultry. This is the biosecurity part of APHIS’ response. This is accomplished by quarantining infected poultry along with biosecurity procedures to protect uninfected poultry. Under certain circumstances, accelerated depopulation of poultry at risk of exposure may be warranted. Strict biosecurity measures should include cleaning, disinfection and avoidance of contact between poultry and anything that may have come into contact with HPAI, including people.

2) Stop the production of HPAI virus by infected or exposed animals. This is accomplished by rapid mass depopulation and culling of infected and potentially infected poultry. Proper disposal of depopulated poultry is extremely important. Predatory birds may feed on exposed carcasses, leading to increased spread of HPAI.

3) Increase disease resistance in HPAI-susceptible poultry or reduce HPAI shedding in infected or exposed poultry. This would be accomplished through the strategic implementation of an emergency vaccine, should an appropriate vaccine become available.

Compensation program

The USDA offers a compensation program for birds and eggs destroyed due to HPAI. This program has compensated producers with nearly $416 million in compensation. So far in the 2022/2023 HPAI outbreak, only 21 herds have had repeat detections responsible for a total of $75 million in damages. This program does not pay for birds that have been killed by the HPAI itself, only those that need to be depopulated. Since HPAI can move quickly through a flock, it is important to promptly report dead birds as soon as they are found to begin the inventory process. USDA claim values ​​are based on national average prices and are updated annually using data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock Market Information Center and other sources. Click here for more information on the compensation program and instructions on filing a claim.

Potential audit program

APHIS wants to introduce an auditing process to correct weaknesses in an operation after detections. The audited party would be responsible for compliance. Operations that do not comply with the required changes would face reduced indemnities in the event of repeated detection.

Proactive responses

One of the proactive strategies adopted by APHIS is to implement its defend the herd education program. This program, founded in 2018, offers free tools and resources to help anyone who handles poultry follow good biosecurity practices. APHIS provides resources such as videos, webinars, posters, workbooks, and even games and activities in the Flock Defender Toolbox. The toolkit guides producers in protecting their herds by preventing wildlife access, reducing food and water sources that attract potential carriers of the virus, and disposing of carcasses in ways that do not attract predatory birds.

Vaccination

Another proactive or preventive approach to controlling HPAI is vaccination. APHIS says more work needs to be done before it can conclude that vaccination is the best strategy, but modern virus strains force non-vaccinating countries to consider vaccination.

HPAI vaccines have been a point of contention between epidemiologists and between countries, as countries that vaccinate are often considered endemic for the disease and risk losing export markets. Many countries around the world, including the United States, do not allow the import of vaccinated poultry, fearing that vaccines could mask the spread of the virus by allowing infected birds to slip through undetected. APHIS estimates that 80 trading partners (countries) would be lost if the United States began to vaccinate under current trade policies. Using 2022 values, this would result in losses of approximately $6.2 billion.

Countries that consume most of their poultry products domestically, such as China, have been using vaccination to control HPAI for years. HPAI was first detected in China in 1996 and China started vaccinating against the virus in 2002. Vaccination in China strategy demonstrated efficacy and reduced the incidence of H5N1 in poultry and humans, but did not eliminate the virus.

A viable vaccine against H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b is not expected to be produced for 18 to 24 months. The lack of incentive for pharmaceutical companies to make it a priority due to the political and commercial implications of vaccinating herds is a major hurdle. However, it is more important than ever to have a vaccine to deploy alongside a vaccination strategy should the outbreak become severe enough.

A concept introduced as a tool to promote trade is DIVA (Differentiate Infected from Vaccinated Animals). The aim of DIVA is to allow detection of infected birds distinct from vaccinated as trading partners will not accept infected birds. This strategy could be used to assure trading partners that poultry has not been exposed to HPAI.

France has ordered 80 million doses of an HPAI vaccine. They will be the first to jump into the fire and see how other countries react. Many countries will be watching France closely to see how policies may need to be adjusted.

Cageless production

Nine states have passed legislation that only allows the sale of eggs from hens raised to non-cage standards. Farms using cage-free methods are expected to increase from 31% of operations in 2023 to 50% by 2025. There are trade-offs associated with different poultry housing systems. Housing systems that allow hens to engage in natural behaviors, for example, may expose hens to more disease and natural injury risk, while improving disease and injury control by confining hens may limit a hen’s ability to adopt natural behaviors. Cage-free systems that allow greater freedom of movement make it more difficult to consistently vaccinate and/or reinforce a herd if a vaccination protocol has been put in place. Click on here for more information on comparing caged and non-cage housing systems.

Summary and conclusions

APHIS’ response to the current HPAI outbreak is proving effective in controlling the spread of the virus. The current virus strain is well adapted to spread by migrating waterfowl and to mutate. Now is the time to develop a proactive plan in case the outbreak becomes more severe. A viable vaccine waits another 18 to 24 months before it is ready for distribution. Being labeled as endemic for HPAI is a barrier to vaccination as it could lead to costly trade disruptions. The United States is not ready to begin using vaccines as a tool in the fight against high-level AI, but it is essential that a plan be ready should the need arise. One thing is certain, the HPAI is not the same as in 2015 and, unfortunately, it is not expected to disappear anytime soon.