The United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has placed two orders of $6 million
each for avian influenza vaccines for the poultry industry.
One
contract has gone to Harrisvaccines of Ames, Iowa, the other to Ceva Corp. of
France.
They are to
be ready in time for the fall migration of ducks and geese that are blamed for
widespread outbreaks across North America during the spring migration.
USDA’s
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) began looking for suppliers
in August in an effort to stockpile up to 500 million doses of one or more
vaccines.
So far
there has been no word from Canadian federal or provincial agriculture
departments about any plans to use vaccines if there is an outbreak of avian
influenza.
