The outbreak of bird flu that began in the United States in 2022 among wild birds and poultry has since spread to dairy cattle, at least one pig, a growing number of people — and even cats.

Zoetis also has an H5N1 vaccine, for which it received a conditional license in 2016 and a contract award for the USDA’s National Veterinary Stockpile. The vaccine was later utilized by the US Fish & Wildlife Service in 2023 to protect California condors. 4

Poultry producers, disease experts and government officials are now questioning the practice of widespread culling in response to H5N1 bird flu outbreaks.

Newly confirmed US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, JD, today introduced new steps to battle avian flu in poultry and stabilize the egg supply, which includes $500 million to help poultry producers shore up biosecurity measures.

A New Jersey pharmaceutical company has received a “a conditional license" for its bird flu vaccine for use in chickens. An infectious diseases expert comments.

Zoetis was granted a conditional license for its avian influenza vaccine for use in chickens. It's a step closer to fighting the bird flu outbreaks that continue to devastate flocks.

Additionally, Medgene is collaborating with Cornell University to test its H5N1 vaccine in cats, which according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, have experienced mortality from consuming H5N1-infected products. Initial antibody titers from Medgene’s H5N1 vaccine in cats have surpassed the company’s expectations.

In other H5N1 developments, the USDA confirmed detections at live-bird markets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The vaccine from Zoetis, Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus, is for poultry and has been demonstrated to be safe, pure, and to have a reasonable expectation of efficacy