The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conditionally approved Zoetis’ bird flu vaccine for poultry, marking a significant step in addressing the ongoing avian influenza crisis. The approval, granted based on safety and expected efficacy, comes as bird flu continues to impact both poultry and humans across the country.
Since April 2024, nearly 70 human cases of bird flu have been reported in the U.S., with one fatality. Most infections have occurred among farm workers exposed to infected poultry or cows. Recently, Wyoming confirmed its first human case of H5N1 bird flu, marking the third hospitalization linked to the virus in the U.S. Despite these cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low.
Zoetis, a leading animal healthcare company, specializes in vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic solutions. The conditional license allows the company to address the urgent need for bird flu prevention in poultry, particularly in emergencies or situations with limited market availability.
In parallel, the USDA has announced plans to rebuild a stockpile of bird flu vaccines tailored to the current strain circulating in commercial flocks and wild birds. This move echoes efforts made after the 2014 and 2015 outbreaks, though the earlier stockpile was never utilized.
Meanwhile, Moderna is advancing its bird flu vaccine for humans, supported by $766 million in U.S. government funding. The company is preparing to move its experimental mRNA-1018 vaccine into late-stage trials following promising early results.