Poultry Vaccinology Summit focuses on Avian influenza

Over 140 key stakeholders from the Mexican poultry industry, Government representatives, veterinarians, producers and leading figures from the animal health research institutes attended the latest Poultry Vaccinology Summit in Mexico to share their expertise.

Many of these partners were responsible for tackling the devastating outbreak of avian influenza (H7N3) that devastated the industry in 2012. Around 22 million birds were culled and the price of eggs more than doubled causing temporary food insecurity in the country.

The poultry sector in Mexico is very dynamic and has since bounced back. It currently produces over 60% of the country’s animal protein. Moreover, Mexico is the egg capital of the world with consumption per capita of 21.9 kilos per year – One egg per person per day. Unfortunately, the industry continues to be affected by Avian Influenza.

At the first Summit held in Egypt in 2012, Ceva launched its vector vaccine Vectormune AI for the control Avian Influenza type H5N2 LP.

In Mexico the company developed and markets an inactivated H7 type vaccine, Cevac Flu H7 K, which was used in the control of the H7N3 highly pathogenic outbreak. Ceva supplied 200 million of the 700 million doses of vaccine that Government and private producers used to bring the outbreak under control. Both vaccines are now used to target the specific AI disease types to ensure that the severe economic impact experienced in 2012 does not reoccur.

Commenting on the success of the joint public/private action, Jean-Charles Tissot Ceva’s Latin America Regional Director said, “AI is a global threat, which is beyond the reach of individual parties to control. The actions undertaken in Mexico are a proven example of how veterinary professionals and all stakeholders can work together to achieve a One Health approach. This is exactly what we mean by our slogan “Together, beyond animal health”.