February 9, 2007

UK not vaccinating birds despite flu outbreak

The UK government said on Wednesday (February 7) that it would not order preventive flu vaccination for birds, despite pressure to do so after bird flu hit Britain's poultry.

Since a vaccinated bird can catch the virus and become a carrier without showing any symptoms, it is not 100 percent effective, a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokeswoman said.

In such a scenario, the vaccination would in effect help spread the virus, instead of preventing it, the spokeswoman added.

Although some farmers, especially those raising organic chickens, want to vaccinate their birds, they fear that some export markets would not allow vaccinated poultry.

France and the Netherlands were allowed to vaccinate their poultry last year, after bird flu hit many countries in Europe.

However, the same fear that vaccinated birds would not be welcomed in importing countries made farmers think twice about vaccinating. Germany a major poultry importer in the EU, does not welcome vaccinated meat.

Moreover, vaccination is a long-term measure, birds would be subject to strict surveillance rules. The meat and products of vaccinated poultry can only be moved or traded if accompanied by a veterinary certificate to show that they have come from a virus-free bird.

Although vaccination is advisable if bird flu is widespread, it is not currently endemic in the UK, Robin Maynard, communications director at the Soil Association, Britain's leading organic certification body, said. Thus, the association agrees with Defra's measures at this point, Maynard said.