The Director-General of the World Organization for Animal Health, Monique Elliott, emphasized the necessity for governments to consider vaccinating birds against avian influenza to prevent the virus from turning into a new pandemic. This virus has already caused the death of hundreds of millions of birds and infected mammals globally.
Elliott stated in an interview with Reuters, "Since almost all countries involved in international trade have now been exposed to the infection, it may be time to discuss vaccination, in addition to the systematic culling of sick poultry, which remains the primary tool for combating the disease."
The severity of the current avian influenza pandemic and the harm it has caused to the economy and individuals have prompted governments to rethink vaccinating poultry. However, some countries, such as the United States, remain largely resistant due to the trade restrictions that this measure would impose.
