Measures wanted to cut back the chance of virus transmission
23 April 2024
2 minute learn
Put up-vaccination surveillance is essential for promptly detecting outbreaks of avian influenza and proving illness freedom, enabling the secure motion of birds. That is the important thing consequence of EFSA’s new scientific opinion, which additionally assesses threat mitigation choices following emergency and preventive vaccination.
EFSA was requested to offer a complete overview of efficient surveillance choices and threat discount measures for avian influenza. Our scientists assessed these measures and evaluated whether or not the out there surveillance methods may reveal freedom from the illness thereby enabling the secure motion of poultry and associated merchandise.
Our consultants appeared particularly at surveillance methods for emergency and preventive vaccination situations, setting out the goal species of poultry (layer rooster, turkey or duck), the variety of animals to be examined, the diagnostic methodology, and the sampling interval.
Within the case of emergency vaccination for extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), our scientists concluded that surveillance schemes for the early detection of latest outbreaks ought to take into account the poultry kind and flock dimension to be efficient. If vaccination is preventive, to show the absence of the illness month-to-month virological testing of as much as 15 useless birds is advisable to safeguard the motion of poultry and associated merchandise. Additionally, each vaccinated and unvaccinated flocks ought to be subjected to passive surveillance .
Consultants from the EU reference laboratory and EFSA labored intently to suggest essentially the most acceptable diagnostic checks for surveillance in accordance with vaccine kind, vaccination technique (i.e. emergency or preventive), and the scope of the surveillance. Extra delicate strategies ought to be used when the quantity of virus within the blood is more likely to be low resulting from vaccination.
“Vaccination is a crucial device within the battle towards avian influenza and is advisable as a part of an built-in illness management strategy. Nonetheless, there’s a must observe up with a strategic surveillance scheme and implement measures to cut back the chance of virus transmission,” stated Frank Verdonck, head of EFSA’s Organic Hazards and Animal Well being and Welfare Unit. “Sustaining a excessive degree of biosecurity stays important, even when vaccination is used. Elevating consciousness amongst farm house owners and practitioners may also help to make sure that any adjustments in poultry manufacturing or elevated mortality are promptly reported and acted upon,” he continued.
In a earlier opinion, revealed in October 2023, EFSA gave its scientific recommendation on out there HPAI vaccines for poultry and appropriate vaccination programmes. EFSA’s recommendation will assist inform selections by threat managers at a European and nationwide degree on efficient surveillance methods to implement in vaccinated areas and on farms, each for the early detection of HPAI outbreaks and to reveal freedom from the illness.
