Avian influenza (bird flu): Vaccination of zoo birds Q and A
Last updated on the 9 April 2008.
- Why is England permitting zoos to vaccinate?
- Do zoos have to vaccinate?
- Why aren’t Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland vaccinating?
- Is the vaccine ready for use?
- Do zoos need permission to vaccinate?
- Who will pay for zoo vaccination?
- How much will it cost to vaccinate?
- Are other EU member states vaccinating their zoo birds?
- Can the vaccine be used in all species/ is it safe for all species?
- Can vaccinated birds still get infected even after being vaccinated?
- If vaccinated zoo birds do become infected, would they be slaughtered?
- Do birds have to be housed after being vaccinated?
- Will vaccinated birds be kept under any monitoring process?
- Is there a risk to the public in visiting zoos with vaccinated birds?
- What will our exit strategy be?
- Who will vaccinate the birds?
- Will the ravens at the Tower of London be vaccinated?
- Can birds be vaccinated if they mix with wild birds?
- Why do you permit vaccination against Newcastle Disease?
- Can vaccinated birds shed the virus?
- If there is no change to risk of AI, why are we moving from evidence/risk based policy?
- What is the definition of a zoo?
- Why can't hobby rare breed owners also vaccinate? Can they gain classification as a zoo?
- How many zoos are there in England? Do they all want to vaccinate?
- Are there any trade implications for the poultry industry?
Why is England permitting zoos to vaccinate?
English zoos have a vital role in global conservation. They are also able to contain the risks of vaccination through high biosecurity, veterinary surveillance and healthcare, record-keeping and identification, all ensured through the annual inspections required by the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
Do zoos have to vaccinate?
No. We are not recommending zoos to vaccinate their birds. It is a decision for them based on their own assessment of risk and cost benefit in their individual circumstances.
Why aren’t Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland vaccinating?
Animal Health is a devolved matter. There are a much smaller number of zoos in Scotland and Wales and they have not chosen to permit their zoos to vaccinate at this time. However, their position remains that they would permit vaccination if the level of risk of disease spread were to justify it. Therefore, any Welsh or Scottish zoos that would like to undertake vaccination are currently unable to apply to do so. Northern Ireland will permit their zoos to vaccinate although none currently wish to do so.
Is the vaccine ready for use?
Yes. Defra has secured a supply of avian influenza vaccine which could be used against both H5 and H7 strains of the disease. When Defra gives individual zoos permission to vaccinate, following a successful application, the correct amount of vaccine will be supplied to the zoo’s private veterinary surgeon who must maintain control over the vaccine and its administration, and destroy any that is not used.
Do zoos need permission to vaccinate?
Yes. Zoos must submit a vaccination application form to Animal Health in order to obtain permission to vaccinate.
Only if zoos meet all the eligibility criteria, including biosecurity conditions and conservation status of their birds, will they be given an ‘authorisation’ document allowing them to vaccinate. The authorisation is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, so any zoos wishing to revaccinate after the expiry date, will need to apply to Animal Health to do so.
Who will pay for zoo vaccination?
As vaccination is voluntary, the zoos themselves will be responsible for the costs of purchasing and administering the vaccine through their private veterinary surgeon. Zoos will also have to meet the costs of any post-vaccination surveillance testing that may be required depending on the risk. Defra would only incur administrative costs which will be so small as to not be cost-effective to recover.
How much will it cost to vaccinate?
The private vet costs will include buying the vaccine from Defra, administering it and carrying out any subsequent testing that may be required, including laboratory costs. Two rounds of vaccination are required six to ten weeks apart.
PCR tests - prior to movement or if, during an outbreak, they are judged to be required after vaccination - would involve testing of one cloacal or oropharyngeal sample from each bird. These tests would be based on DIVA principles, fulfilling our EU obligations, and would currently cost £13.40 per sample. However, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency is investigating ways in which different samples can be examined together, which will significantly reduce costs.
Other costs are impossible to estimate as they depend on the amount of work involved in each case, the existing veterinary arrangements of each zoo and the charges of individual private vets.
For further details, please see the information we have produced for zoos on the likely costs of vaccination.
Are other EU member states vaccinating their zoo birds?
We are aware of 16 other member states which have allowed their zoos to vaccinate their birds (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Austria, Estonia, Czech Republic, Latvia and Sweden) although in 3 of those states no zoos have done so. Of the 8 countries who do not permit vaccination (Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) all except Poland are relatively small countries who are unlikely to have many zoos holding birds of conservational importance.
Can the vaccine be used in all species/ is it safe for all species?
The vaccine has been used in Asia and the Netherlands on chickens, ducks, turkeys, waterfowl (geese, whistling ducks, swans, teal, pelicans), pheasants and owls with minimal reactions being reported. Any vaccination has associated risks but it is ultimately a decision of the zoo and their private vet to assess these risks.
Can vaccinated birds still get infected even after being vaccinated?
Although the vaccine will reduce death or illness, vaccinated birds could still become infected and mask disease spread, so delaying detection. Virus can also rapidly mutate rendering vaccine ineffective and there are other disadvantages of current vaccines which is why we are not permitting the vaccination of birds outside zoos. However, zoos are expected to be able to effectively contain these disadvantages due to their high levels of biosecurity, veterinary surveillance and healthcare, record-keeping and identification, ensured through an annual inspection regime.
If vaccinated zoo birds do become infected, would they be slaughtered?
Zoo birds on infected premises are not required to be slaughtered under the Avian Influenza Directive but whether they were spared slaughter would depend on a veterinary risk assessment in each individual case.
Do birds have to be housed after being vaccinated?
It is advisable to keep vaccinated birds indoors for at least 30 days post vaccination to ensure that maximum immunity has developed. This may not be possible in all cases due to welfare concerns associated with indoor housing in selected species of birds, such as penguins and flamingos.
Will vaccinated birds be kept under any monitoring process?
Vaccinated birds may be monitored through samples being taken and tested, depending on a veterinary risk assessment. This will be carried out by the zoo’s private vet under random supervision by Animal Health.
Is there a risk to the public in visiting zoos with vaccinated birds?
No. There are no implications of vaccination for human health and it remains perfectly safe to visit zoos.
What will our exit strategy be?
This decision will be kept under review in relation to our developing knowledge about the nature and spread of avian influenza.
Who will vaccinate the birds?
Vaccination will be carried out by the zoo’s private vet under the supervision of Animal Health on a proportion of premises.
Will the ravens at the Tower of London be vaccinated?
No. The Tower of London is not licensed as a zoo and does not currently have in place the necessary biosecurity and other conditions which are essential to limit the risks of vaccination.
Can birds be vaccinated if they mix with wild birds?
To be eligible for vaccination, biosecurity must be in place to minimise contact with wild birds. Each zoo’s biosecurity precautions are assessed during the approval process and an Animal Health veterinarian recommends if they will provide sufficient protection to allow vaccination. Vaccination should only be used as an adjunct to good biosecurity and every effort should be made to reduce contact with wild birds through husbandry practices.
Why do you permit vaccination against Newcastle Disease?
Vaccines can be routinely used for Newcastle Disease (ND) on a voluntary basis and we can require their use in an outbreak. They are more effective than current AI vaccines and have been available throughout the EU for many years. Unlike current AI vaccines, they can be administered more easily to large numbers of birds by aerosol rather than by injection. This is done privately and Defra holds no stocks of ND vaccine.
Can vaccinated birds shed the virus?
If vaccinated birds become infected with Avian Influenza they can shed virus and hence transmit it to other unvaccinated birds, whilst not becoming ill or showing signs themselves. We therefore require that vaccinated birds should be kept separate from unvaccinated zoo birds where possible.
If there is no change to risk of AI, why are we moving from evidence/risk based policy?
There is uncertainty in the nature and spread of the virus and the impact of disease on zoo birds would be high. In these circumstances we believe that zoos should decide for themselves whether vaccination is justified. We have therefore based this decision on a combination of evidence based factors including the risk assessment, the conservation status of zoo birds and the risk mitigation provided by zoos.
What is the definition of a zoo?
Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 a zoo is an establishment where wild animals (animals not normally domesticated in Great Britain) are kept for exhibition to the public with or without charge for seven or more days a year. To be eligible for vaccination, a zoo needs to be licensed under the 1981 Act by its local authority and comply with stringent conditions on biosecurity, veterinary surveillance and healthcare, record-keeping and identification, ensured through the annual inspections required by the Act. They also need to hold birds defined as being of significant conservational merit.
Why can't hobby rare breed owners also vaccinate? Can they gain classification as a zoo?
No birds outside zoos are permitted to be vaccinated as we do not have the assurance provided by zoos through the required annual inspections that they will be able to contain the risks of vaccination. Anyone who believes that they meet the definition of a zoo should contact their local authority to seek advice about applying for a zoo licence. The local authority will decide whether a collection meets the definition of a zoo and requires licensing. The local authority will also, after appropriate consultations which would include an inspection, decide whether to grant or to refuse a licence.
How many zoos are there in England? Do they all want to vaccinate?
There are approximately 350 licensed zoos in England. In December 2006, 44 zoos gained an authorisation to vaccinate their birds. These included many of England’s largest zoos which have a major role in global conservation. However, in light of a recent change in AI vaccine and the validity period of the authorisation, those 44 zoos wishing to vaccinate their birds in future have been asked to re-apply to Animal Health in order to do so.
Are there any trade implications for the poultry industry?
This decision will not affect trade with other EU member states. The reactions of third countries are unpredictable but we are currently aware of three countries (Libya, Syria and Indonesia) which state that no vaccination against AI should be carried out at all in Great Britain. We continue to communicate with those countries to explain the reasons behind our decision and that this has no implications for the UK poultry sector. We are not aware of any trade restrictions on those member states which have already vaccinated their zoo birds.
Page last modified:
9 April, 2008