USDA to Field Test FMD Vaccine
News Date September 07, 2010
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to conduct a field trial of a new foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine. The FMD vaccine is a recombinant vaccine. It contains no live FMD virus; therefore, the vaccine poses no risk of an outbreak or harming the inoculated cattle. As currently proposed, the vaccine will be given to approximately 600 cattle in Nebraska, Missouri, and Michigan.
This safety trial is required as part of APHIS' vaccine licensing process. An Environmental Assessment, to be published in the Wednesday, September 8th Federal Register, is based on a risk analysis which was prepared to assess the risks associated with the field testing of this vaccine and also to examine the potential effects that field testing this veterinary vaccine could have on the quality of the human environment. There will be a 30 day comment period where any new information will be reviewed before continuing with the purposed 7 week study. The field trial is scheduled to take place later this year. (By: Marissa Cloum) (Contact: Bob Ehart)