UK: Avian influenza vaccination task force meets

The UK government’s avian influenza vaccination task force has met for the first time today (Monday, 20 February) amid ongoing high levels of confirmed commercial cases. Among the key stakeholders represented on the task force are the National Farmers’ Union, the British Poultry Council, British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), Game Farmers’ Association, British Poultry Veterinary Association, and the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency. The meeting will be co-chaired by Mark Williams, BEIC chief executive and a Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) animal health and welfare directorate, and will investigate issues such as vaccine efficacy, availability and barriers to international trade. Aimee Mahony, NFU poultry chief adviser, said she would be interested to hear the latest developments of vaccine pilots that have been taking place in several European countries. She told Poultry World that she was encouraged that the task force included producers from the ...