Industry official highlights restriction of H5N1 vaccine as bird flu continues to affect India's poultry sector

At a time when India's poultry industry is grappling with the current bird flu outbreak, the industry feels the government's prohibition on vaccinating birds against highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAIA) or H5N1 continues to impact the sector's ability to tackle the virus.

Suresh Chitturi, vice president of the All India Poultry Breeders Association, pointed out that although poultry birds receive over 20 different vaccines, the crucial H5N1 vaccine remains restricted.

The ban stems from international trade notification requirements set by the World Animal Health Organization, which mandates countries to notify globally when vaccinating against certain diseases.

According to Chitturi, the situation has become particularly concerning with the emergence of a new strain from China during recent bird migrations. "This year, there's a new strain that seems to have come from China during migration, and that has caught everybody by surprise. So in the new strain the bird doesn't have resistance," he explained.

This has hit the industry with farm-gate chicken prices plummeting from ₹110 (US$1.33) per kilogramme to below ₹60 (US$0.72) since after the bird flu outbreak reports more than a month, against a production cost of ₹95 (US$1.14) per kg. Egg prices have also declined from ₹5.50 (US$0.07) to around ₹4 (US$0.05) per egg.

Experts like Pankaj Kumar Shukla, former joint commissioner of poultry at the Union agriculture ministry, and currently professor and head of the poultry sciences department at Veterinary College Mathura, first call for the need for a robust vaccination and testing system before allowing HPAI vaccination. "If 100% vaccination is not followed and even one bird is left out, the entire purpose will be defeated," he cautioned.

While pointing out that the government has permitted vaccination against low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) last year following industry demands, Telangana Poultry Breeders Association president Ranjith Reddy said HPAI vaccination ban is not unique to India, as most countries have similar restrictions due to concerns about potential spillage and human transmission.

But Chitturi said due to the ban, currently unauthorized vaccines—especially Chinese ones—are being smuggled through the country's borders, and official approval would enable better monitoring of the virus.

- The Times of India