Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. August 2025
    2. 2025 Poultry Health supplement
    3. July 2025
    4. 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. January 2025
    13. December 2024
    14. November 2024
    15. October 2024
    16. September 2024
    17. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    18. August 2024
    19. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    20. July 2024
    21. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. March 2024
    28. February 2024
    29. January 2024
    30. December 2023
    31. November 2023
    32. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    33. October 2023
    34. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    35. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – August 2025 issue out now

    By Chloe RyanAugust 13, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – August 2025 issue out now

    August 13, 2025

    2025 Poultry Health supplement out now

    August 13, 2025

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    July 1, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
Health & Welfare

Trial of bird flu vaccines begins in the Netherlands

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanOctober 5, 20222 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

A trial to protect birds against avian influenza with vaccination has begun by Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR).

Vaccines against bird flu made by three different pharmaceutical companies against the current H5 viruses are being tested in laying hens. “More information about the potential vaccines against bird flu is required before these can be applied in the field,” said bird flu researcher Nancy Beerens. The research wase commissioned by the Dutch ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

“In this trial we test the effect of the vaccines on clinical signs of disease. Furthermore, the effectivity of the vaccines against the spread of the virus is an important parameter of the study,” said Beerens. “The trial will run for about three months after which data will be analysed. We don’t expect the final results before the second half of December.”

The call for a vaccine in the battle against bird flu is getting louder, Beerens said. “Previously, our summers were free of bird flu infections. This year, for the first time ever, the virus didn’t leave the Netherlands with the migrating birds during springtime. The virus was able to infect birds which stay in our country during summer. This means that the virus is still spreading via bird droppings from infected birds and therefore poultry farms were still infected.”

Vaccination of poultry flocks has many pros and cons. “Bird flu vaccines have to protect against disease but also need to prevent the spread of the virus. If a vaccinated flock gets infected with bird flu but the birds show no signs of illness, a farmer wouldn’t notice the virus infection. If, in that case the vaccine is not effective enough in reducing virus transmission, this could potentially cause ‘silent’ spread of the virus between farms,” said Beerens. This aspect is one of the reasons why the European Union has rules in place for vaccinated poultry.

“We expect that the new types of vaccines we are testing in this trial, provide better protection against the spread of the virus than previous vaccines. Furthermore, it is possible to distinguish between vaccinated and infected animals with specific diagnostic tests.” Several European countries have started bird flu vaccination studies. “The results of these studies are very important for preparing future European agricultural policy which possible allow vaccination of poultry.”

 

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticlePoultry Business – October 2022
Next Article New poultry research facility opens
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

Health & Welfare

Avian Influenza rules tightened amid rising risk

August 26, 20251 Min Read
Health & Welfare

Comment: Avian flu is no longer contained

August 22, 20252 Mins Read
Health & Welfare

Coccidiosis control: Don’t get misled by lower stocking densities

August 21, 20255 Mins Read
Latest News

Poultry numbers grow in England, driven by broilers

August 29, 2025

Four men imprisoned for diverting chicken not fit for human consumption back into food chain  

August 28, 2025

New ad campaign for Red Tractor

August 28, 2025
Sponsored Content

Precision Nutrition: A global approach to reducing broiler feed cost.

August 1, 2025

Navigating Sustainability in Egg Production: Practical Steps for Producers

June 1, 2025
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.