What’s next for avian influenza in the US in 2023?

At PEAK 2023 in Minneapolis, Dr. Carol Cardona, Pomeroy chair in avian health for the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, spoke about the past and future of the virus on April 13. PEAK is presented by the Midwest Poultry Federation. Vaccination comes with pros and cons, she said. The positives include preventing the spread of HPAI between flocks by reducing the transmissibility of the disease to other birds and other species. The cons included the cost of surveillance associated with a so-called DIVA, or differentiating between infected and vaccinated animals, vaccine strategy. She also mentioned the lack of available HPAI vaccines in the U.S. and the likelihood of losing some trading partners strictly due to vaccinating.