Amid the rapid spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in US poultry farms, US secretary of health, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has proposed a controversial strategy.
Instead of mass culling infected flocks, he suggests allowing the virus to spread naturally to identify and preserve birds with natural immunity.
Kennedy, a well-known antivaccine advocate, has repeated this stance since early March, notably on Fox News, raising alarm among scientists and veterinarians.
Experts warn that letting bird flu run its course could have disastrous consequences. The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has killed or led to the culling of hundreds of millions of birds worldwide in recent years. Allowing it to circulate freely could accelerate mutations, increase the risk of transmission to humans and other animals, and threaten global food security.
Matthew Koci, a professor of immunology and virology at North Carolina State University’s poultry science department, said that the more animals the virus infects the more we are “rolling the dice” for a mutation to happen and turn into “the next pandemic.”
Meanwhile, last week saw US secretary of agriculture, Brooke Rollins, host a stakeholder update today to provide the first progress report on the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) five-pronged strategy to combat bird flu and lower gg prices. Less than a month after the plan’s rollout, she reports significant advancements across all five areas.
“Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting the relief they need, and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu,” said Secretary Rollins.
Netherlands takes a different approach with vaccination pilot
In contrast to Kennedy’s controversial remarks, the Netherlands launched a pilot program to vaccinate laying hens against bird flu, earlier this month. Following successful field tests of two vaccines, the Dutch government hopes to reduce outbreaks without resorting to mass culling.
The program will begin on a single farm before potential expansion. Dutch officials will assess market reactions to products from vaccinated birds and refine surveillance protocols. Due to trade concerns - some countries ban poultry imports from vaccinated flocks - eggs from vaccinated hens will initially be sold only within the Netherlands. The initiative is set to run until early 2027.
Dutch Agriculture Minister, Femke Wiersma, praised the poultry sector’s willingness to participate, calling vaccination a “huge opportunity” to curb outbreaks. However, challenges remain, including trade barriers and ensuring that vaccinated birds do not harbor asymptomatic infections.
UK reluctant to vaccinate poultry
The UK remains hesitant about vaccination. The UK’s Avian Influenza Vaccination Task Force has acknowledged the need for better control measures but reports that no current vaccine fully meets the criteria for widespread use. Vaccination can reduce mortality and symptoms but does not eliminate infection risks, complicating detection, and surveillance, it argues.
Trade concerns also loom large. Although the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) does not see vaccination as a barrier to trade, many countries still impose restrictions on poultry products from vaccinated flocks. The UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is reviewing applications for H5-subtype vaccines, which could help manage outbreaks.
Growing pandemic concerns and global preparedness
As bird flu continues to spread, European health agencies warn that new mutations could increase the virus’s ability to infect humans. A joint report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has identified 34 key mutations that could heighten pandemic risks.
“Global developments demand that we stay alert and ensure Europe is prepared to respond to the threat of avian influenza,” said ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner. Stronger international cooperation, surveillance, and strategic vaccination efforts are critical to mitigating the impact of future outbreaks.
