Source: MEATINGPLACE, 7/23/15

A new avian influenza vaccine is effective in protecting chickens, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a House Agriculture Committee at a hearing Wednesday. Vilsack said that USDA scientists are testing the vaccine on turkeys, according to the Associated Press.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get a lot of folks working collaboratively together and we stockpile enough so that if this does hit and hits us hard we're in a position to respond quickly," Vilsack was quoted as saying.

The announcement comes just days ahead of a poultry industry conference in Iowa aimed at helping members prepare for potential future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The “Avian Influenza Outbreak…Lessons Learned” Conference is scheduled for July 28-29 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) has reported that more than 48 million birds have been affected by the current avian influenza outbreak that has hit 15 states.

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