April 29, 2025

Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines for pigs yet to get Australia's approval

 

Australia's $6 billion pork industry has been waiting for a vaccine against the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) for three years since its outbreak. 

 

Nine people have died from the virus since 2021, including two in Queensland this year.

 

A vaccine exists for humans, but two separate pig vaccines are yet to clear federal approval processes. It comes as primary producers do everything they can to combat the mosquito-borne virus that causes significant reproductive issues in sows and has cost the pork industry millions of dollars.

 

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) said it was assessing two emergency use permit applications, which would allow scientists to trial their vaccines in pig farms.

 

The competing vaccines have been developed primarily by the University of Queensland and veterinary company Apiam Animal Health.

 

Apiam Animal Health chief executive Chris Richards said the APVMA had told him assessment for his emergency use permit could take 13 months.

 

"The government is not serious at all about trying to reduce this disease in the pig industry and nor are they obviously concerned about the deaths of people that is occurring in our community as a result of this virus," he said.

 

Richards said the company had the capacity to vaccinate 50,000 sows within two weeks of emergency approval.

 

"If we got an emergency use permit today, we'd be able to vaccinate most of those sows that are in the affected areas in the next two weeks," he said. "I think that there's just a lack of understanding of the significant impact that this disease is having in rural Australia."

 

Farmers have been told their best defence is mosquito controls as JEV spread in Queensland.

 

The most recent detection was at the Betta Pork facility in Biloela.

 

Director Laurie Brosnan said he was following industry best practice to keep his piggery safe, but it was not enough without an effective vaccine. He said Betta Pork had an independent contractor who sprayed open waterways, puddles, and other areas "at a considerable cost".

 

"We also treat the animals to protect them against JEV," he said. "It's just unfortunate that there's only so much you can do."

 

Australian Pork chief executive Margo Andrea said JEV was a top concern for the industry.

 

"The previous outbreak in 2022 cost the industry millions of dollars and significantly impacted operations for piggeries across four states," she said. "Three years later, JEV continues to contribute to losses for producers and their communities.

 

"We will continue pushing for a vaccine that will help keep our herds safe and healthy and help safeguard our producers' livelihoods."

 

University of Queensland Associate Professor Jody Peters, who oversaw the development of one of the vaccines, said there was enough data to show that it was safe and effective. Dr. Peters said her team started working on it as soon as they were notified of the first JEV outbreak in Australia in early 2022.

 

"The initial trials occurred at the end of 2022, and some additional trials occurred in 2023," she said. "I think we have got sufficient data to prove that it is effective, and it is safe.

 

"But, ultimately, it is up to the regulatory bodies to determine whether we have produced enough data to date."

- ABC News