Latest news with #BirdFlu
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Largest Egg Producer in Southwest Shutdown: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Bird flu has wiped nearly all of Hickman's Family Farms' chickens in Arizona, forcing the Southwest's largest egg producer to cut staff and begin rebuilding its flock—a process expected to take about two years, the company's President and CEO Glenn Hickman told Newsweek in a Saturday phone call. Newsweek has also reached out to several agricultural economics experts for comment via email on Saturday morning. Why It Matters Bird flu across the United States has impacted around 173 million poultry, 13,000 wild birds, and over 1,000 dairy herds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There have been 70 reported human cases, including one death. The CDC, however, maintains that the public health risk is low. The flu is not just an agricultural issue, as it has far-reaching implications for public health and the economy, including egg prices and availability, as well as farm sustainability and employment. Hickman's Family Farms has several bird operations across Arizona as well as smaller ones Colorado. The farm, founded in 1944, is the largest egg company in the Southwest, and the top 20 in the country. What To Know "Our hens began showing symptoms consistent with avian influenza on May 15 and were confirmed the next day," Hickman said at a Friday news conference. Despite efforts to contain the outbreak, it spread to all of the farm's west side facilities, ultimately wiping out 95 percent of its chicken population, around 6 million chickens, he told Newsweek. The farm has ordered baby chicks and expects to house its first new hens in about five months, with full repopulation projected to take around two years, Hickman said. The loss of its flock will result in layoffs and force at least a pause, if not an end, to its 30-year inmate rehabilitation program, which has provided thousands of incarcerated men and women with work experience. The farm has around 850 employees, with manyexpected to be cut; however, Hickman told Newsweek that they are short on labor as they are "rapidly trying to euthanize everything to try and stop the virus from spreading," as well as removing them. Bird Flu Incubation and Vaccination "The incubation period for this is 14 days," Hickman told Newsweek, adding that "when you have one positive on one farm, all the birds are presumed to be positive, so you have to start depopulating the whole farm." Hickman called upon the government to provide access to a poultry vaccine, saying at the press conference that it's "the only viable solution to gain control of this highly infectious virus." He added: "We need to be able to start giving it to our flocks and the quicker that we can start vaccinating our nation's poultry flock, the quicker that we can get back to normalized operations." In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued Zoetis conditional license for its "Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus." Hickman's Family Farms "buy vaccines from Zoetis all the time," for other diseases, Hickman told Newsweek, adding that "they're not able to sell us yet, because it hasn't been released for sale. So, whether it's been approved or not is immaterial, we can't get it." The vaccine requires a schedule starting with baby chicks. A spokesperson for Zoetis told Newsweek in an email: "In the US, the distribution and use of avian influenza vaccines are controlled by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS). This agency oversees the authorization for manufacturing firms to sell and distribute these vaccines as part of an official USDA animal disease control program. Therefore, USDA APHIS VS authorization is required to sell and distribute AI vaccines in the U.S." Newsweek has reached out to the APHIS for comment via email on Saturday. Hickman pointed to the apparent lag in vaccine rollout as efforts by the "meat bird industry" lobbying, which he says "doesn't want us [the egg industry] to protect our flock." It is unclear why not as many meat poultry farms have been less affected by bird flu, with Hickman suggesting that it could be due to the fact that they harvest their birds at around five to six weeks of age, whereas the Hickman Family Farms' hens are grown for about two years old. The USDA has also pledged to rebuild a stockpile of bird flu vaccines. However, earlier this week, the Trump administration canceled a $766 million agreement with Moderna that was dedicated to developing vaccines for potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu. Crystal Adams, wearing orange to identify her as a prison worker, inspects eggs as she works as an order runner at Hickman's Family Farm egg-packaging operation in Tonopah, Arizona, on March 14, 2024. Crystal Adams, wearing orange to identify her as a prison worker, inspects eggs as she works as an order runner at Hickman's Family Farm egg-packaging operation in Tonopah, Arizona, on March 14, 2024. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster What People Are Saying David Ortega, professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, told Newsweek in an email: "This is a very unfortunate situation and a stark reminder that the bird flu outbreak is still wreaking havoc on the poultry industry. The closure of Hickman's Family have an outsized impact on egg prices and availability in the region... While national impacts may be more limited in the near term, this adds pressure to an already stressed egg supply chain. He added: "What's especially concerning is that these disruptions are unfolding at a time when the federal government is pulling back support for research and critical disease response efforts. Cuts under the Trump administration have disrupted the USDA's ability to respond swiftly to outbreaks like of this underscores how vulnerable our food system remains and why investments in biosecurity and disease preparedness are more important than ever." Animal rights activist group Animal Outlook told Arizona's Family outlet: "This is great news for chickens! A two-year shutdown of Hickman's Eggs represents a victory for the hens who would have been crammed into the company's imposing sheds and reduced to egg-producing machines, and for the millions of male chicks who would have been ground up alive or suffocated simply for being born the wrong sex in an industry that has no use for them. We urge Hickman's to use this time to consider a transition away from animal agriculture and toward more sustainable, ethical, and innovative practices." Dr. Gail Hansen, who served for 12 years as the state epidemiologist and public health veterinarian for Kansas, said in a mid-May statement to Newsweek: "It's a welcome relief for many Americans that egg prices have finally begun to drop, but this is unfortunately not the end of the story. Bird flu remains a major threat that will strike again—as long as factory farms continue to dominate our poultry market. By cramming together tens of thousands of chickens, corporations have created the perfect conditions to supercharge this recent bird flu outbreak, and which will inevitably do so again." What Happens Next? "Our national flock has the capacity of about 330 million, so losing ours will have some effect, but I don't think it will have a material effect," Hickman said about egg prices nationwide. In April, egg prices fell for the first time since October, but they remain elevated, with the average price for a dozen at about $5.12—up from around $2.87 last April, a 78 percent increase, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
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First Post
2 days ago
- Business
- First Post
US vulnerable to bird flu but Trump administration cancels $766 mn Moderna vaccine deal
The US Department of Health and Human Services, under Robert F Kennedy Jr, said that after reviewing the Biden-era deal, it was found that the Moderna project did not meet the scientific standards or safety expectations required for continued federal investment read more A test tube labelled "Bird Flu", eggs and a piece of paper in the colours of the US national flag are seen in this picture illustration, January 14, 2023. File Image/Reuters US President Donald Trump's administration has cancelled a deal with Moderna vaccine worth $76 million at a time when cases have started flaring up in the country, affecting poultry. The former Biden administration had awarded Moderna a $590 million contract to advance the development of its bird flu vaccine and support the expansion of clinical studies for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic influenza. That deal now stands null and void, which effectively means that the drug maker does not have the authorisation to create vaccines and sell their shots. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US Department of Health and Human Services, under Robert F Kennedy Jr, said that after reviewing the Biden-era deal , it was found that the Moderna project did not meet the scientific standards or safety expectations required for continued federal investment. It is important to note that RFK Jr is a vaccine sceptic, particularly the mRNA technology that is employed in making Moderna vaccines. Moderna stocks tumble The company has been banking on revenue from newer mRNA shots, including its bird flu vaccine and experimental COVID-flu combination vaccine, to make up for waning post-pandemic demand for its COVID vaccine. After the announcement about its bird flu vaccine, shares of Moderna were flat in after-market trading. As it is, the company was not doing so good business-wise. In the first quarter, Moderna reported a loss of $2.52 per share on $86 million in product sales. While the loss was smaller than expected and an improvement over the $3.07 per-share loss from the same period last year, revenue fell short of expectations. Analysts polled by FactSet had projected sales of $107.3 million. Bird flu in US Bird flu has been spreading in the US for quite time, hitting the sale and consumption of poultry products and affecting businesses. As of May 6, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 70 cases of avian influenza and one death. In April 2024, the CDC confirmed the first human case of bird flu in a Texas dairy worker who had been exposed to cows suspected of being infected. This case is believed to mark the first known transmission of the H5N1 strain from mammals to humans. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Moderna Loses $700M US Contract for Bird Flu Vaccine Development
The Moderna logo is seen at the Moderna campus in Norwood, Massachusetts on on December 2, 2020, where the biotechnology company is mass producing its Covid-19 vaccine. Moderna announced Wednesday that the Trump administration has canceled a major contract worth nearly $700 million for the development of its bird flu vaccine. This decision ends a key pandemic preparedness project started during the Biden administration. In January, Moderna received $590 million from the US government to support clinical trials and build a vaccine for H5N1, the bird flu virus that's been spreading among cattle and poultry. According to Reuters , the funding followed an earlier $176 million award given in 2024 for the same purpose. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it ended the agreement after a full internal review. A spokesperson explained, "The project did not meet the scientific standards or safety expectations required for continued federal investment." Moderna's early data from testing showed strong results. In a study with around 300 adults, 98% of participants developed immunity within three weeks of the second shot. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the vaccine was "well-tolerated" and produced a "robust immune response." 🚨BREAKING: HHS Terminates Moderna's $766 Million in mRNA Bird Flu Injection Contracts🔻 Ends all federal purchase commitments🔻 $590M canceled for late-stage clinical trials🔻 $176M canceled for early R&D support This marks a major policy shift away from dangerous mRNA… — Nicolas Hulscher, MPH (@NicHulscher) May 28, 2025 Moderna to Push Bird Flu Vaccine Without Federal Funding Despite the promising findings, the federal government pulled its support. Public health expert Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security said canceling the deal "throws away one of the fastest tools we have" to fight a possible bird flu outbreak. He also noted the decision goes against the earlier rapid-response approach used during COVID-19. Bird flu has infected at least 70 people in the past year, most of them farm workers. It continues to spread among animals, raising concerns about a future outbreak in humans, AP News said. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned vaccine use and previously suggested letting the virus spread in poultry to study natural resistance. His remarks were criticized by some members of Congress. Moderna said it still plans to move forward with its bird flu vaccine. The company will look for other ways to continue late-stage development and production. "We will explore alternative paths forward for the program," Bancel added. The company has been counting on its new mRNA vaccines—including the bird flu and a COVID-flu combo shot—to replace falling demand for its original COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna's stock price did not change much after the announcement, staying mostly flat in after-hours trading. Originally published on © {{Year}} All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
HHS cancels $590 million contract with Moderna for bird flu vaccine
The US Department of Health and Human Services is terminating a contract with drugmaker Moderna to develop a vaccine to protect against bird flu amid the agency's broader efforts to reevaluate therapies that use mRNA technology. The contract, which was worth $590 million, was announced in mid-January, just before President Donald Trump's second term. Moderna said Wednesday that an early-phase trial of its mRNA-based vaccine against H5 bird flu in about 300 healthy adults showed 'a rapid, potent and durable immune response.' 'While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased by the robust immune response and safety profile … and we will explore alternative paths forward for the program,' Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement. 'These clinical data in pandemic influenza underscore the critical role mRNA technology has played as a countermeasure to emerging health threats.' However, HHS said Wednesday that the project doesn't meet scientific or safety expectations for continued investment. 'After a rigorous review, we concluded that continued investment in Moderna's H5N1 mRNA vaccine was not scientifically or ethically justifiable,' HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said in a statement. 'The reality is that mRNA technology remains under-tested, and we are not going to spend taxpayer dollars repeating the mistakes of the last administration, which concealed legitimate safety concerns from the public.' The Trump administration has been looking to evaluate mRNA research and technology and ensure transparency, an administration official told CNN last month. MRNA technology is already used in Moderna's and Pfizer/BioNTech's currently licensed Covid-19 vaccines, which have been found to be safe and effective. But public health experts have expressed concern that increasing anti-vaccine sentiments in general – and anti-mRNA sentiments specifically – may block people from accessing vaccines. 'The attack on mRNA vaccines is beyond absurd,' Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and the White House Covid-19 response coordinator in the Biden administration, said Wednesday on social media. 'It was President Trump's Operation Warp Speed that gave us mRNA vaccines. These vaccines have been administered nearly 2 billion times to hundreds of millions of people around the world – making it one of the most widely used and widely studied vaccines in human history. They are safe and work well. 'If Bird Flu starts spreading from people to people, we will come to regret this as the day we decided to put the lives of the American people at grave risk.' Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a broad term that refers to several types of influenza that normally infect birds. The H5N1 virus has raised concern among health officials because it has sickened dozens of people in the United States and killed one. The US does have vaccines against H5 viruses in its Strategic National Stockpile, but they are made with older technology. In February, Bloomberg News reported that US health officials were reevaluating the Moderna contract. 'I'm very disappointed, candidly,' Dr. Paul Friedrichs, a physician and retired Air Force major general who was director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy in the Biden administration, told CNN in March. 'One of the real challenges when a new pathogen emerges is that it takes time to produce therapeutics, and it takes time to produce vaccines. 'So we worked very closely with industry to try and find ways to fund research and clinical trials and make sure that we had a variety of options available if this virus became more dangerous,' he said. 'Because we just don't know what's going to happen next with this virus.' CNN's Deidre McPhillips, Brenda Goodman and Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report.
Leaders
10-05-2025
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Observes World Migratory Bird Day
Saudi Arabia celebrated on Saturday the World Migratory Bird Day, stressing the significance of safeguarding migratory birds and their habitats, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Themed 'Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities,' the 2025 celebration focused on the vitality of integrating migratory birds into urban planning. Therefore, it seeks to decrease environmental threats and challenges they encounter in urban areas. Represented by the National Center for Wildlife (NCW), the Kingdom has been making bold strides to protect wildlife, including migratory birds, which form an essential part of biodiversity. As part of its efforts to preserve wildlife, the Kingdom has regulated hunting, enforced strict laws in line with approved environmental regulations, and coordinated with relevant authorities to ensure the sustainability of biodiversity. Through the launch of the Fitri platform, the Kingdom has also facilitated hunting season procedures. Meanwhile, NCW conducts field surveys, monitors migration routes, determines the status of each species, studies biodiversity hotspots and wetlands, and updates the national bird list. Furthermore, it boosts environmental monitoring and research programs across coastal and wilderness regions. As one of the most important components of biodiversity, migratory birds are a crucial indicator of environmental health. Accordingly, it has become necessary to abide by regulations and legislation and avoid any human activities that may lead to the destruction of natural environments. Related Topics: Saudi Arabia Bans Polish Poultry Imports after Bird Flu Outbreak Tarout Island: Top Migrating Birds' Destination Al Khunfah: Bird's Meeting Point Short link : Post Views: 3
