The American Department of Agriculture USDA has approved a field trial with a vaccine against bird flu in cows. This step comes four months after the first request to companies whether such a vaccine could be developed.
Agriculture Minister Tom Vilsack is hopeful for a truly effective vaccine, although the vaccine currently being tested still needs to prove itself.
The field trial comes at a time when over 200 dairy farms spread across 13 states are struggling with an infection.
As a result, there are sick cows, lower production, extra supervision on the milk flow (pasteurization kills the virus), and concern among consumers. Meat from infected animals is also subject to extra scrutiny. People can get infected through raw meat and inadequately heated milk. Incidentally, several dairy farms in Canada have also been infected with bird flu.
Cows infected with bird flu produce 10 to 25% less milk according to American experts. This has a significant impact on production per farm and on the overall milk supply.
