WattAgNet: 6 avian influenza developments you should know

Avian influenza continues to be a major concern among turkey, egg and broiler producers.
From WATTAgNet:

The United States poultry industry continues to be concerned about avian influenza and its impact. Here are six developments you should know:

1. USDA not ready to vaccinate for avian influenza – No vaccinations for avian influenza will be approved by the USDA, at least not yet. The federal agency announced on June 3 that the efficacy of current vaccines is not sufficient to justify approving a vaccination program at this time. The agency further stated that it will continue to work with researchers and vaccine companies as they develop more effective vaccines in fighting avian influenza.

2. Avian influenza has affected over 45 million US birds – With the two most recent detections of avian influenza confirmed in turkey flocks in Iowa and Minnesota, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has now recorded 207 cases of avian influenza, affecting 45,027,793 birds.

3. Avian flu impact expected to help pork trade – The pig industry is keeping its eye on the avian influenza situation. While speaking at World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, Steve Meyer, Ph.D., vice president, pork analysis, Express Markets Inc. Analytics, said that the loss of about 2.5 percent of the U.S. turkey supply will help the pig industry when the Thanksgiving season comes around. “We are going to have some positive influence on ham prices as we go into the holidays, because there aren’t going to be as many turkeys available this fall," said Meyer.

4. WTO favors US in India’s AI-related trade ban – A ban put in place by India in 2007 has again been determined unfair by the World Trade Organization (WTO). India had imposed the ban under the premise that it wanted to prevent outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza. After the WTO ruled the ban unfair in 2014, India subsequently disputed the ban. On June 4, WTO upheld its earlier ruling.

5. Restaurants coping with high egg prices brought on by AI – Avian influenza has caused a shortage of eggs and pushed egg prices higher. Restaurant chains are coping with the problem in different ways. Jimmy’s Egg said it plans to absorb the increased costs, while Whataburger is reducing the hours that it serves breakfast items.

6. Avian flu quarantines lifted – As areas previously hit by avian influenza appear to be clear of the virus, at least two states have released quarantine zones earlier established. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has lifted its quarantine on poultry sites within three kilometers of the Whitley County mixed backyard flock where the virus was detected in early May, WTHR reported. Meanwhile, the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health lifted quarantines that have been in place in Dickey and LaMoure counties since highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in poultry flocks there in April.  

Bookmark WATTAgNet's avian influenza update page for the latest news concerning the virus and its impact on the poultry industry.