Urgent vaccine effort launched to combat H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle

USA – The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Genvax Technologies are jointly investing US$278,163 to develop a vaccine through FFAR’s Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant program in response to a mounting outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cows. 

The investment follows the emergence of H5N1 in cattle for the first time in March 2024. Since that initial detection, over 1,000 cases have been confirmed across 17 U.S. states. 

While the virus causes only mild symptoms in cows, it settles in their mammary glands, severely impacting milk quality and output, a development that has raised serious concerns within the dairy industry.

Because this is an emerging pathogen in cattle, no approved vaccines currently exist. Recognising the urgent need for protection, researchers led by Dr. Hank Harris, co-founder of Genvax Technologies, are now working to develop a targeted vaccine and supporting diagnostics.

“An H5N1 outbreak in cattle threatens not just milk supply but consumer confidence and trade,” said Dr. Harris. 

“By accelerating vaccine development with our rapid response platform technology, we aim to give farmers the tools they need to stay ahead of this evolving threat and safeguard the economic backbone of rural America.”

The project also includes the development of diagnostic tools to differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals, which is key to tracking the virus and ensuring that biosecurity measures are effective. 

These diagnostics will be tested in calves to confirm their accuracy before researchers submit data to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Centre for Veterinary Biologics for conditional vaccine approval.

“The cross-species spread of H5N1 presents a new significant challenge to controlling the spread of this virus,” said Dr. Angela Records, FFAR chief scientific officer. 

“Providing farmers with the tools they need to protect their dairy cows quickly is vital to protecting the U.S. dairy industry. This rapid funding will assist researchers in developing a vaccine and getting it to farmers.”

The collaboration is part of FFAR’s ROAR program, which provides rapid funding for agricultural research and outreach in response to unexpected threats to the U.S. food and farm systems. 

By accelerating early-stage vaccine development and validation, the initiative aims to arm farmers with a critical tool to contain H5N1 before it causes further disruption.