Science Market uncertainties, safety rules, and export concerns stand in way of H5N1 shots for cattle.
The outbreak of avian influenza in U.S. dairy herds raises an obvious question: Why not adopt the strategy many countries use to protect poultry and vaccinate the cows? An H5N1 vaccine might not only protect cattle from infection and the concomitant drop in milk production, but also reduce the risk of the virus sickening farm workers. And it could limit opportunities for the virus to mutate and further adapt to mammals, which in theory could trigger a pandemic.
On 3 May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a “request for information” from companies that have the capability to develop and produce cow vaccines against H5N1. Jamie Jonker, chief science officer at the National Milk Producers Federation, says he knows of up to 10 companies that have “expressed interest.” The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), a group of veterinarians, 2 weeks ago held closed-door presentations from several potential vaccinemakers.
“If something was to be made available and shown to be efficacious and safe, I think there would be wide use of it,” Jonker says. The outbreak has already been confirmed in nine states, and the United States has 13 million mature dairy cattle and young stock.