The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it is planning to conduct a small, carefully-controlled trial of a vaccine to counter higihly-pathogenic avian influenza,
Migrating birds have been responsible for hundreds of outbreaks among commercial and backyard poultry flocks leading to the culling of more than 17 million birds to prevent further spread.
Farms in the lower mainland of British Columbia have been particularly hard hit, but no province has remained untouched.
The agency said it will be co-operating with provincial and industry partners to plan and conduct the trials.
So far Canada has been able to avoid international trading bans because of its aggressive virus control program, but a vaccine could trigger tradeing bans because a vaccinated bird is difficult to distinguish from a diseased one.
The plan is to try vaccines on a poultry farm to assess how they perform while managing potential impacts on animal health, surveillance and trade.
“Findings from this trial may inform future decisions on whether HPAI vaccination should be used in Canada,” said Cynthia Philippe, CFIA acting veterinary program specialist.
