13 Feb 2006
Avian Influenza
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department is commissioning into a vaccine to cure avian influenza, with particular reference to the H5NI strain. [49455]
Mr. Bradshaw: Defra is heavily involved with research into avian influenza. This includes making sure that the department's own research and development programme is tied into further work on vaccine development that the European Union and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council are taking forward; especially their recent, published call for new research proposals.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what vaccine is available for use in poultry to prevent avian influenza. [49635]
Mr. Bradshaw: Currently available vaccines do not make vaccination effective or efficient as a disease control or prevention measure for avian influenza in the UK as, although vaccines are able to reduce mortality, it is likely that some vaccinated birds would still be capable of transmitting the disease if they became infected.
However, as part of our readiness for a disease outbreak, and being conscious that there was no authorised vaccine available for AI, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has recently issued a Provisional Marketing Authorisation for the Nobilis vaccine, produced by Intervet. The use of any approved vaccine is also subject to European Community legislation on the control of avian influenza and would have to be specifically authorised by the Chief Veterinary Officer. We are continuing to work closely with vaccine manufacturers to assess information on other vaccines.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received (a) in favour of and (b) against vaccination of poultry against avian influenza. [49642]
Mr. Bradshaw: We are engaging closely with a wide range of stakeholders on this issue.
There is a broad consensus that preventive vaccination does not currently provide an effective and efficient means of controlling avian influenza. Good biosecurity followed by housing of birds is the best response to a heightened threat. There is a minority view that preventive vaccination for birds of high genetic value, birds in zoos, and free-range birds in areas of high risk should be considered as part of the overall control strategy.
There is also an acceptance that emergency vaccination should be considered during an outbreak. This could form part of a wider disease control strategy but would also depend on the efficacy of the vaccines available. A plan for using vaccination would also have to be approved by the European Commission. We will continue to involve stakeholders in our consideration of these issues.
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