The outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has led to a highly successful initiative of the French authorities to vaccinate ducks.
In the attempt to fight the spread of the disease, the French Agriculture Department chose vaccines developed by German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim to carry out the ambitious campaign.
The program’s estimated cost was reportedly €110 million, with a specific focus on vaccinating 64 million ducks due to their heightened sensitivity to the virus. These ducks excrete the virus into the environment even before displaying symptoms, facilitating its spread.
France, renowned for gastronomic delights such as foie gras, has one of the most developed global duck industries. However, in recent years highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks have caused devastating losses, affecting over 200 million birds.
While the vaccines used had already undergone testing in other European Union countries, France was the first nation to introduce them for widespread commercial use.
The need to vaccinate such a high number of ducks in a short period resulted in a sharp increase in the demand for the ThaMa 222 double syringe, which is an ideal solution for the simultaneous injection of two poultry vaccines at different dosages in a single shot.
One of the reasons that this all-metal, automatic vaccinator is favored by French growers is that it reduces labor costs and time spent on vaccination. Equipped with a unique two-to-one bridge, the ThaMa 222 can be used with one or two needles as needed.
According to media reports, thanks to the vaccination program and enhanced biosecurity measures, France has witnessed a significant drop in HPAI outbreaks. Compared to 315 outbreaks during the 2022-2023 season, only ten cases were recorded by mid-March 2024. This success prompted the Department of Agriculture to downgrade the risk level for avian influenza from “severe” to “’modest.”
As the battle against avian influenza continues, farmers, veterinarians, and policymakers are encouraged to continue with the vaccination efforts to protect the poultry industry and ensure food safety.
At ThaMa-Vet, we are available to offer any required information on our two-in-one syringes to streamline this highly important vaccination process.
