Results
Title

Silent spread of H5N1 in vaccinated poultry.

Authors

Savill, Nicholas J.; St Rose, Suzanne G.; Keeling, Matthew J.; Woolhouse, Mark E. J.

Abstract

International debate on the merits of vaccinating poultry against the H5N1 influenza A virus has raised concerns about the possibility of an increased risk of between-flock transmission before outbreaks are detected. Here we show that this 'silent spread' can occur because of incomplete protection at the flock level, even if a vaccine is effective in individual birds. The use of unvaccinated sentinels can mitigate, although not completely eliminate, the problem.

Subjects

VACCINATION; POULTRY diseases; POULTRY breeding; INFLUENZA A virus; PREVENTIVE medicine; INFECTIOUS disease transmission

Publication

Nature, 2006, Vol 442, Issue 7104, p757

ISSN

0028-0836

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1038/442757a