LSU wins nearly $2 million to study poultry protection against bird flu

Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish

LSU researchers have received nearly $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a poultry vaccine against H5N1 bird flu, according to a November 9 university report.

Mariano Carossino, an associate professor of veterinary pathology, leads the School of Veterinary Medicine team. The award comes through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge.

The project aims to help poultry producers protect flocks while preserving the ability to distinguish vaccinated birds from infected ones. LSU describes potential administration before chicks hatch or through drinking water, approaches intended to work across large flocks.

Those are research goals, not demonstrated protection or a vaccine available for farms. LSU says no HPAI vaccine is authorized for widespread use in U.S. poultry production.

For producers and consumers, the potential benefit is fewer flock losses and less disruption to food supplies. Whether the approach delivers those results remains to be established.