Defra have announced that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccine trials started at the beginning of March, in a major step forward in the fight against the disease.

New trials will explore the potential for the latest vaccines to protect birds, focusing on turkeys only in England, providing valuable insight into how well vaccines work in the field, how surveillance can be managed to retain trade and how vaccines can help manage the disease.

The scale of avian influenza outbreaks in the UK and Europe within the last few years has been unprecedented, causing devastation for bird keepers on the frontline and the poultry sector. Annual outbreaks cost the UK Government and industry up to £174m each year. The disease has significantly impacted both captive and wild birds globally since 2020.

Turkeys have been selected as a priority species for further research as they are highly susceptible to avian influenza, with outbreaks resulting in severe clinical signs with rapid and elevated mortality rates.

The trial will sample a small group of birds under strict supervision following approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and using UK/ EU authorised vaccines. Vaccinating poultry against bird flu is not currently allowed more widely in the UK.

The potential benefits of HPAI vaccination are being considered in several countries experiencing similar challenges to the UK. In Europe there are ongoing trials of vaccines in Italy and the Netherlands.

The trials will last for 24 weeks and will provide insight into the final recommendations of the UK HPAI vaccination taskforce.