A significant leap forward in poultry health was unveiled recently against the majestic backdrop of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Boehringer Ingelheim, a global biopharmaceutical giant, launched Vaxxitek COBRA, a groundbreaking vaccine designed to protect poultry from a trio of devastating diseases: avian influenza (H5), Marek’s disease, and infectious bursal disease (IBD), all with a single dose.
The event, attended by leading experts from Egypt and worldwide, underscored the vaccine’s potential to revolutionize poultry farming, a sector vital to global food security.
“Poultry is the primary source of protein worldwide,” explained Taoufik Rawi, head of franchise and poultry at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Maintaining a steady flow of healthy poultry through vaccination is crucial.”
Vaxxitek COBRA’s innovation lies in its ability to provide broad protection against prevalent H5 avian influenza clades and two other major poultry diseases in one convenient shot. Developed using Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen (COBRA) technology, the vaccine represents a significant advancement in avian influenza prevention.
“We are proud that this development stemmed from our research and development efforts,” Rawi added.
The vaccine, certified in the US in 2023, is now available in Egypt, marking a pivotal moment for the country’s poultry industry. “It offers poultry farmers a powerful solution to enhance flock immunity and protect against major diseases,” Rawi stated.
Dr. David Swayne, former laboratory director at the USDA, emphasized the critical importance of vaccination in combating avian influenza. “In the US, we have suffered from avian flu, leading to an eight-percent fall in egg production,” he noted. “Such a problem is magnified in countries that rely on chicken production as an affordable protein source.”
Avian influenza, particularly the H5 strain, remains a significant threat to poultry worldwide. “The continuous evolution of the virus and the emergence of many variants underscore the importance of this newly announced vaccination,” Swayne explained.
Addressing concerns about vaccine scepticism, Swayne stressed the undeniable importance of vaccination for both human and animal health. “Vaccination is essential to keep viruses at bay, especially since two-thirds of emerging viruses come from animals to humans,” he said.
Looking ahead, Swayne highlighted the need for robust surveillance mechanisms to monitor emerging viruses in livestock. “It is critical to maintain a transparent surveillance mechanism in each country to monitor and detect new sequences that could pose potential hazards, produce vaccines in response, and share this information globally with relevant scientific communities.”
The launch of Vaxxitek COBRA represents a significant step towards ensuring the health and sustainability of the poultry industry, both in Egypt and globally. By providing comprehensive protection against multiple diseases, this innovative vaccine promises to safeguard livelihoods and strengthen food security.
