The first jab was given: 1800 day-old chicks received a vaccination against highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu. Never before have chickens in the Netherlands been vaccinated against bird flu in a field trial.

This marks the start of this field trial. Previous research in the laboratory at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) has shown that two vector vaccines against highly pathogenic avian influenza are effective against spreading the virus.

The ministry is now having Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Royal GD (Animal Health Service) and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University investigate whether these two bird flu vaccines are also effective at poultry farms.

More information: First chickens in test phase vaccinated against bird flu virus