No bird flu vaccine available for my chickens

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So the Bird Flu has now been confirmed in the UK.  I'm sick and tired of reading and hearing about Asian bird flu.  It’s not that I am unconcerned, because I REALLY am concerned, especially as I keep poultry myself.  As each day passes we keep getting media news on how far the disease has progressed through Asia and now Europe.  I believe it is now on our doorstep as a case of the flu was found in an Austrian chicken.  Previously the virus had only been detected in wild birds in around seven EU countries, so this latest development is very worrying indeed.

I keep four laying hens and have not eaten a supermarket egg for almost two years.  However, my "flock" is now at an increased risk in my opinion. There is actually a vaccine for this particular virus (HN51), which can be used to immunise poultry against the disease.  But DEFRA in their infinite wisdom, refuse to let us small poultry keepers have access to it.

Why is this?  Where is the problem and why can’t we have the vaccine?  I am willing to pay for the vaccine and the veterinary costs associated with administering it.  It comes in the form of an injection by the way, so there would be a reasonable cost involved.

I’ve been led to believe that if vaccinated, all the eggs from that particular bird would HAVE to be marked as vaccinated before the could be sold to the public.  Now, as I don't sell my birds eggs and they are purely for home use, what’s the problem?

So come on DEFRA, please release this vaccine so that we may protect our birds.

By: Clive

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alfie rise

the reason we cant have the vaccine clive is because the strain is continually evolving, e.g there is no vaccine
we can protect against a certain strain but there are BILLIONS of other variations of the disease. so it is not cost efficient to produce millions of billions of diffrent vaccines if you follow? :)

believe me every sympathy is with your 'flock' as you say haha
but no point in blaming the DEFRA organisation as you can see

30/10/08 alfie rise

-8

Arya Melika Agro Industry Comp

Respected Sir/ Madam

We are a trading company, we have activities in fields of poultry. We import and export poultry feed and related products. So we are interested in import Avian Influenza Vaccine H5N* for poultry to Iran.
If you are producer in these cases please send us the specifications, If you don't please inform us about this vaccine's producers or manufacturers.
Please be consider that if you can't have commercial relationship with Iran, our Spanish company can have business with you.

With best regards

Sarmen

08/12/07 Arya Melika Agro Industry Comp

2

Who would be a cow?

Well Bird Flu isn't exactly in the media right now, but blue tongue and foot and mouth disease certainly is. Count yourself lucky that you PROBABLY weren't even affected after all

27/09/07 Who would be a cow?

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Scary Chick

Smacks of government conspiracy. There's definately something they are not telling us about bird flu. Probably as a result of secret biological weapons testing or something

20/06/06 Scary Chick

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Free Range egg buyer

Yes, we don't seem to be hearing anything about it anymore. Has it all just gone away??!

06/06/06 Free Range egg buyer

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Kim

Excuse the pun, the whole bird flu thing has died a death hasn't it, so why do we need a vaccine for pet chickens?

06/06/06 Kim

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raza pakistan

There are now any vexcine for BIRDFLU .Uses of disinfectent spray is provide saftey more then 65% against vireul infection

21/04/06 raza pakistan

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Barbara

I don't think very many people realize just how many small flock owners are out there. Ranging from a couple birds to a small flock of 50 that a 4H kid raises and sells the eggs from. I'd be willing to give shots to all of them!

17/04/06 Barbara

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Scott

Clive, I hadn't thought of it like that and I can see your point about poultry farmers thinking of their birds as machines. I hadn't really thought of the 'pet' angle. In that case I would be clamouring for a vaccine myself, and may still do yet as we have seen recently there is no barrier to it crossing over to another species. I refer ofcourse to the cat in Germany that was on the news recently. Hmm Interesting.

03/03/06 Scott

0

Clive

Well said Scott, but from my point of view it's not just about losing a few eggs. The battery farmers etc are running an industry, they see their birds as nothing more than "machines". I keep four and they provide all the eggs I need and it would be fair to say that they have become "pets". It is surprising how tame and comical these creatures become and yes, they could be replaced. But, I do not want to replace mine and I think many smallholders would agree with me. There is medication out there and it should be made available to all.

03/03/06 Clive

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Scott

I hate to point out Clive, but I think the vaccine is probably best kept for the big guys who have hundreds and thousands of birds. You're the little guy with a hand full of chickens or whatever for personal consuption. Bird flu strikes, you loose a few eggs. If the big poultry farmers get whacked, they loose their whole livelyhood and the outlets they supply loose out, the prices go up.

Don't get me wrong, I understand where you're coming from, but patience. You'll get the vaccine once we know how widespread bird flu is going to be in this country.

02/03/06 Scott

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Clive

I have actually been in contact with the vaccine manufacturers and there's gallons of the stuff

01/03/06 Clive

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Connor

If there is no bird flu vaccine and DEFRA aren't prepared to release it to small poultry farmers, there's probably a good reason don't you think? Maybe there is a shortage, or they know it will be required for the larger poultry operations.

I do think that the threat of bird flu should NOT be underestimated, and it will seriously affect our economy and way of life in this country. That dead cat in Germany is just the tip of the iceberg... watch this space!

28/02/06 Connor

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Clive

Because some of us who keep small domestic flocks don't relish the idea of having their birds destroyed. The vaccine that protects the poultry from infection is available (France and the Netherlands are already using it).

27/02/06 Clive

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Nathan

I can't see what the panic is about. AT THE moment, bird flu (or avian flu), whatever you call it, can't be passed to humans and meat from poultry is still safe to eat. Why all the fuss?

25/02/06 Nathan

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