Vilsack: More effective bird flu vaccine in the works

Racing for ways to prevent another massive bird flu outbreak, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the federal government is pushing ahead a new vaccine that's more effective in protecting birds and looking to build in better disaster protections for the industry.

At the same time, producers hit by avian influenza could begin bringing birds back into facilities by fall, said Vilsack, Iowa's former governor.

Vilsack, along with Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, spoke to about 300 poultry producers and state and federal officials Tuesday at an industry conference in Des Moines.

The two-day conference, closed to the public, is focused on the lessons learned from the massive outbreak that has wiped out nearly 50 million chickens and turkeys this spring. Iowa has been hardest hit by the disease, with producers losing about 31.5 million birds.

MORE: Full coverage of bird flu outbreak in Iowa

Officials worry the deadly virus could return this fall, when migrating waterfowl that carry the disease fly south.

Experts are especially worried the disease will hit the East Coast, home to the nation's largest broiler production, which so far has been unscathed.

No humans have been infected by the virus, and the food supply remains safe, health officials said.

The bird flu threat could return just as producers in Iowa, Minnesota and other states are trying to rebuild their flocks.

"Our hope is by the end of the summer we're in a position to get folks back into business across the entire 21 states that were impacted," Vilsack said. That's "assuming we don't have a re-emergence, and assuming everything goes well.

"We're doing everything we possibly can to prevent it from occurring again and to mitigate its expansion."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to provide $700 million to help producers cover part of their losses and to help euthanize birds, and clean and decontaminate facilities. About 3,000 private contractors were hired to battle the outbreak this spring.

About $191 million is expected to go to producers to help cover their losses, with $183 million already dispersed to producers, he said.

The federal government's costs "may obviously grow if this thing re-emerges in the fall," Vilsack said.

Experts believe wild geese and ducks introduce the virus, but it is spread on workers' boots and clothes, equipment and through water. It's also believed to be spread on the air, dust and small birds that get into poultry facilities.

"Obviously, the best biosecurity job may not be good enough, and there may be a re-emergence," he said.

John Clifford, USDA's chief veterinarian, said the agency has set a goal to depopulate facilities within 24 hours after they're determined to be positive for infection.

"We want to reduce the virus that can spread to other operations," he said. "Speed is critical."

Animal rights groups have criticized USDA officials for considering shutting the ventilation systems on chicken barns to euthanize birds. Officials say the option is humane and just one of several approaches being considered.

Craig Hill, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, said one of the concerns he hears most from poultry producers is about depopulating flocks.

"The death from the virus is worse that being euthanized," he said. "They want a quick response, a humane response."

Clifford said the new seed strain for a vaccine is promising, although it's still being tested to determine how effective it is in protecting chickens and turkeys. Vaccines from several companies are being developed and will likely needed to tackle the disease.

"We want to identify a vaccine that's 100 percent effective in chickens and turkeys and make sure we have adequate supplies on hand, should we need it," Vilsack said, adding that federal money will be pumped into stockpiling vaccines.

After the federal government determines a vaccine can be used, it will be up to states to decide whether to use vaccines, which carry possible trade fallout.

"It's a shared responsibility," Vilsack said. "Governors will need to understand the pluses and minuses of using a vaccine."

Countries could decide whether they may not accept turkeys, chickens or eggs from states that use the vaccine.

Trade partners representing about 80 percent of U.S. agriculture trade has fully or partially banned ag products because of avian influenza. Vilsack said USDA representatives have been calling on Asian, European and other trade partners to urge state-by-state bans, instead of a countrywide bans.

"We're hoping to get trade partners at a more comfortable place, so if we use a vaccine, we do not have adverse trade implications as a result," he said.