According to the The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), post-vaccination surveillance is “crucial” for detecting outbreaks of avian influenza and proving illness freedom.

The EFSA was requested to provide an summary of “effective” surveillance choices and danger discount measures for avian influenza.

The scientists at EFSA assessed the danger discount measures and evaluated if the available surveillance methods might display freedom from the illness, which permits the secure motion of poultry.

The specialists checked out surveillance methods for preventive vaccination eventualities, setting out the goal species of poultry, the variety of animals to be examined, the diagnostic methodology, and the sampling interval.  

EFSA

In the case of emergency vaccination for extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the scientists concluded that surveillance schemes for the early detection of recent outbreaks ought to take into account the poultry kind and flock dimension to be efficient.

The EFSA added that to show the absence of the illness, month-to-month virological testing of as much as 15 lifeless birds is really useful to safeguard the motion of poultry.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated flocks ought to be subjected to passive surveillance.

Experts from the EU reference laboratory and the EFSA labored intently to advocate essentially the most acceptable diagnostic checks for surveillance in keeping with vaccine kind, vaccination technique, and the scope of the surveillance.

Head of EFSA’s Biological Hazards and Animal Health and Welfare unit, Frank Verdonck stated:

“Vaccination is a vital software within the combat towards avian influenza and is really useful as a part of an built-in illness management method.

“Maintaining a high level of biosecurity remains essential. Raising awareness among farm owners can help to ensure that any changes in poultry production or increased mortality are promptly reported and acted upon.”

In a earlier opinion, printed in October 2023, the EFSA gave its scientific recommendation on available HPAI vaccines for poultry and appropriate vaccination programmes.

EFSA’s recommendation goals to assist danger managers to make choices at a European and nationwide stage on efficient surveillance methods to implement in vaccinated areas.