The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), is hopeful that at least one avian influenza (AI) vaccine will gain FDA approval for commercial release within the year.
BAI officer-in-charge Christian Daquigan said that the vaccine by Boehringer Ingelheim is close to meeting regulatory requirements, following its study submission and FDA endorsement in March. Two other companies are also advancing field trials for alternative vaccines.
This development comes as the BAI confirmed the country’s first case of the highly pathogenic H5N9 bird flu strain in Camaligan, Camarines Sur, detected during routine surveillance. The DA assured that containment measures, including culling, quarantine, and disinfection, are actively being enforced. While H5N9 is dangerous to poultry, global health assessments currently deem it low-risk to humans.
With four regions and 137 barangays still affected by avian influenza, authorities underscore the importance of a timely vaccine rollout to protect the poultry industry and prevent wider outbreaks.
