Boehringer Ingelheim introduces trivalent poultry vaccine in Egypt

EGYPT – In a development for poultry health management, Boehringer Ingelheim has launched VAXXITEK HVT+IBD+H5, a trivalent vaccine designed to protect poultry against Marek’s disease, Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), and H5 avian influenza. 

This new vaccine is set to be available in Egypt starting February 2025, marking its initial introduction to the global market.

VAXXITEK HVT+IBD+H5 combines immunization against three significant poultry diseases into a single administration. 

Marek’s disease is known to cause tumors and paralysis in chickens, leading to considerable losses in poultry farms. IBD, also referred to as Gumboro disease, targets the immune system of chickens, increasing their vulnerability to other infections.

H5 avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is a highly contagious viral infection that affects domestic and wild birds. 

It has also been reported in other species, including cattle and humans, though human cases are rare. The continuous evolution of the H5 virus strain necessitates innovative vaccine solutions to manage and prevent outbreaks effectively.

The development of VAXXITEK HVT+IBD+H5 utilizes Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen (COBRA) technology. 

This approach enables the creation of a unique antigen sequence that provides protection against the most prevalent and infectious H5 clades, addressing the challenges posed by the virus’s ongoing evolution.

Administered directly at hatcheries, VAXXITEK HVT+IBD+H5 ensures early protection for chicks, minimizing potential immunity gaps that can occur between the decline of maternal antibodies and the development of active immunity post-vaccination. 

This strategy supports the health and productivity of poultry from the onset of their development.

Global context of avian influenza

The introduction of this vaccine comes amid ongoing concerns about avian influenza outbreaks worldwide. 

Since 2021, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been reported in various regions, affecting poultry industries across multiple continents. 

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

Countries such as South Africa have experienced significant challenges due to avian influenza outbreaks. 

In 2023, South Africa’s poultry sector reported the deaths of at least 205,000 chickens and the culling of approximately 8.5 million birds to contain the spread of the virus. 

These measures led to disruptions in egg production and necessitated the importation of fertile hatching eggs to maintain supply levels.