The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S. in 2015 caused the greatest loss of poultry in terms of numbers and cost in the country’s history. In response to the outbreak, poultry producers across the country have reevaluated their biosecurity programs to prepare for the possible return of the virus in migratory birds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has created a vaccine stockpile which might be used in a future eradication effort, if another outbreak occurs. To date, two avian influenza vaccines have been selected for stockpile, and APHIS has asked for other vaccines to be submitted for evaluation.
This webinar will broadcast at 2:30 PM Central.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- Lessons learned from prior avian flu outbreaks where vaccination was used to try and control the outbreak.
- What is known about the two vaccines that have been selected for inclusion in the avian influenza vaccine stockpile by APHIS.
- How vaccination might be used to help eradicate a future highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, either in the U.S. or somewhere else.
This webinar is presented by WATT Global Media.
Speaker Info:
Dr. Leslie David Sims, Consultant, Asia Pacific Veterinary Information Service, Australia
Dr. Les Sims is a veterinary consultant with over 30 years of experience, focusing primarily on farm animal disease management. He has a special interest and association with avian influenza, having been involved with outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza since 1985 (two outbreaks in Australia in 1985 and 1992). He was in charge of operations and played a major role in avian influenza control and prevention in Hong Kong from 1997 to 2002, while working for the Hong Kong government as an Assistant Director of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation. Since 2004, he has worked as a consultant, mainly through FAO and the World Bank, advising veterinary authorities on avian influenza in China, Thailand, Cambodia, North Korea, Mongolia, Indonesia and, especially, Viet Nam. He has provided technical support for HQ staff at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), written numerous papers on issues related to avian influenza control and prevention for FAO and others, and guided development of technical components for World Bank projects on avian influenza in Cambodia and Viet Nam.
Dr. David Suarez, Research Leader, Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research, USDA ARS
Dr. Lee Ann Thomas, Director of the Avian, Swine & Aquatic Animal Health Center, USDA APHIS
Dr. Guillermo Zavala is the founder of Avian Health International. Dr Zavala holds a DVM and a specialty in poultry production from the University of Mexico; a Master of Science, a Master of Avian Medicine, and a PhD in medical microbiology from the University of Georgia. He has worked in broiler and breeding companies, vaccine companies, one diagnostic laboratory, two academic institutions and as Adjunct Professor at the Department of Population Health, University of Georgia. His field of research is in applied virology (CIAV, IBDV, tumor viruses, ILT, enteric viruses and fowl adenovirus). He has 32 publications in peer-reviewed journals.