In an era of continuous global outbreaks of transboundary disease, preparedness is not an option – it is a necessity.
Nearly every day, there is news of the persistent spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in the United States, moving from wild birds to domestic poultry and dairy cows, as well as limited cases in humans and one swine case.
More than 100 million birds have been infected with HPAI since the beginning of 2022 and more than 700 dairy herds across 15 states have been impacted by the outbreak. The economic ramifications are real, too – from the livelihoods of poultry and livestock producers to the price consumers pay in the grocery store. All of this has spurred the agriculture and animal health industries into action.
Earlier this year, I joined a fascinating conversation on “What Happens When Animal Diseases Cross Boundaries?” with key animal health experts and veterinarians. It resonated with my fellow panelists and webinar participants alike when we discussed the level of surprise felt by the dairy sector upon the initial detection of avian influenza in dairy cows.
Avian influenza is an especially unpredictable transboundary animal disease, even to those who are familiar with animal disease outbreaks, because it has a constant genetic drift and shift that results in new strains of the virus.
While the U.S. has been successful in responding to the outbreak with the tools and biosecurity protocols available to us today, the unpredictability of HPAI highlights the need to prepare for and prevent the next global disease outbreak. Vaccines are one important tool to consider for frontline defense against devastating transboundary diseases like avian influenza.
Companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim, are working in collaboration with USDA and the broader livestock industry to develop innovative vaccines for poultry and cattle that will help stop the spread of HPAI and protect our national food supply. As we work toward these vaccines for today, we still need to invest in and prepare for future transboundary disease challenges together, including building up our vaccine supply.
The U.S. has successfully prepared for and prevented transboundary diseases before. The last foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, a highly contagious viral disease of wild and domesticated animals, happened in 1929. Although it has been 100 years, the livestock industry, animal health experts, lawmakers, and the federal government have collectively agreed that there is a grave cost if we are not adequately prepared should another outbreak occur.
The shutdown of U.S. export markets, heavily relied on by the pork, beef, and dairy industries, could occur and would lead to major losses in revenue that would devalue domestic markets and cause a significant drop in commodity prices.
A 2023 Iowa State University study found that an outbreak of FMD and African swine fever would cost the U.S. pork and beef industries $231 billion over 10 years. The economic toll on our U.S. farm families and rural communities could be devastating and take years to rebuild.
It is this unified understanding of what’s at stake that led to the creation of the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, with a focus on FMD response. Boehringer Ingelheim is proud to have been awarded a contract by USDA to build up a critical stockpile of antigens for vaccines in the event of an outbreak.
If there were an FMD outbreak, the vaccine bank could be leveraged to quickly supply vaccines to U.S. livestock producers and reduce the impact of this transboundary disease on U.S. agriculture and our economy. This bank was first funded by the 2018 farm bill, and there is broad, bipartisan support for increasing funding for disease preparedness in the next bill.
Our experience with FMD has highlighted the importance of vaccine banks in developing a robust defense against potential disease outbreaks. While we continuously support research and work with global disease experts, we cannot always predict the evolution of transboundary animal diseases. However, by leveraging the lessons learned from FMD, we can ensure preparedness through long-term investment in new and innovative disease prevention efforts, expanded vaccine capabilities, and increased biosecurity measures.
Now is the time to invest in our future, to make sure that we are not only prepared for the next outbreak but are building a resilient system that allows for a quick and coordinated response to global disease outbreaks and preventing the devastation that comes as a result.
Doug Ensley is the director of U.S. veterinary public health for Boehringer Ingelheim.