The article discusses the challenges of avian flu outbreaks in the US poultry industry, especially regarding egg-laying hens, which have been severely affected. Vaccination strategies are being considered by the USDA, but the broiler chicken industry fears it could jeopardize exports due to potential international bans. Experts advocate for a combination of vaccination and heightened biosecurity measures, though there's skepticism about their effectiveness without deeper understanding of infection routes. As the virus spreads, targeted biosecurity is becoming increasingly essential.
During the current outbreak, more than 77 percent of the domestic poultry affected have been commercial egg-laying hens, prompting a focus on their vaccination.
Ashley Peterson warns that even targeted vaccination could result in the banning of all US poultry products by other countries, affecting exports significantly.
Carol Cardona emphasizes that biosecurity alone is unlikely to eliminate bird flu, stating that farmers are fatigued and need more information on infection sources.
As the disease spreads, Cardona suggests that without better targeting of biosecurity measures, the battle against bird flu will be even more challenging.
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