Boehringer Ingelheim launches trivalent Avian Influenzae poultry vaccine in Egypt

EGYPT – Boehringer Ingelheim is introducing a new trivalent poultry vaccine, VAXXITEK® HVT+IBD+H5, to the Egyptian market, with distribution set to begin in February 2025.

The vaccine provides protection against three major poultry diseases: Marek’s disease, Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro), and H5 avian influenza.

Egypt’s poultry sector, a key contributor to food security and the economy, has long faced challenges from avian influenza outbreaks, making disease control measures a priority.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s vaccine combines immunity against H5 avian influenza with existing protection against Marek’s disease and Infectious Bursal Disease.

Administered at the hatchery, it offers early protection by bridging the gap between maternal antibodies and active immunity in young birds.

Marek’s disease is a viral infection that leads to paralysis, tumors, and high mortality in poultry, while Infectious Bursal Disease weakens the immune system and reduces productivity.

Both diseases have historically required separate vaccinations, but VAXXITEK® HVT+IBD+H5 integrates them with H5 avian influenza protection in a single dose.

Boehringer Ingelheim developed the vaccine using COBRA (Computationally Optimised Broadly Reactive Antigen) technology, which generates antigen sequences that enhance coverage against multiple H5 avian influenza clades.

According to Taoufik Rawi, Head of Franchise, Poultry at Boehringer Ingelheim, the vaccine improves disease control by offering broad protection in a more efficient way.

The vaccine also features DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) technology, allowing authorities to distinguish between infected and vaccinated birds for better disease surveillance and outbreak management.

Dr. David Swayne, former Laboratory Director at the USDA and Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia, notes that H5 avian influenza continues to pose a major threat to global poultry production.

Avian Influenza’s Ongoing Impact

Egypt has been dealing with persistent avian influenza outbreaks for nearly a decade, with the disease causing significant losses in poultry farms and household flocks.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been reported in various parts of the world since 2021, affecting poultry industries across multiple regions.

In October 2023, the virus was first detected in marine species near the South Georgia Islands, southeast of South America, before spreading to Antarctica in February 2024.

South Africa’s poultry sector also suffered a major outbreak in 2023, leading to the deaths of at least 205,000 chickens and the culling of approximately 8.5 million birds.

Among those culled, 2.5 million were broiler breeders, while 6 million were layer flock chickens, leading to disruptions in egg production.

To offset shortages, South African poultry producers imported 280 million fertile hatching eggs, mainly from Brazil, to maintain supply levels.

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