During November 2024, the European Association of State Veterinary Offices noted that following initiation of vaccination against HPAI in ducks, outbreaks were effectively curtailed. Through November 2024, 61 million ducks had been vaccinated with ten outbreaks compared to an anticipated 480 outbreaks that would have occurred based on losses during the 2021-2022 HPAI season. During this period, there were 1,400 outbreaks resulting in culling of 22 million birds mainly in the concentrated foie gras industry.
Expenditure on vaccination including vaccine, administration, monitoring, surveillance and veterinary supervision amounted to $122 million but saved close to $1.5 billion that would have been expended for control and decontamination. The $2 cost per duck appears excessive. In the context of the U.S. poultry industry, Both direct and some indirect costs would probably be less than 20 cents per bird given new-generation vector vaccines suitable for mass administration.
Initially, the foie gras industry in France experienced negative responses from importers but it is noted that import embargos were in any event in effect due to clinical outbreaks of HPAI.
With experience and presentation of epidemiologic data and greater understanding of the ongoing HPAI pandemic, restrictions on importation from France and other nations applying HPAI vaccination have been eased.