The ongoing outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has recently spread from Asia to Africa and Europe posing an actual public threat as HPAI can occasionally infect humans.
Ducks play a major role in the epidemiology of avian influenza (AI) because wild waterfowls, including ducks, constitute the natural reservoir for all subtypes of influenza and are considered to be the “Trojan horse” of Asian H5N1 HPAI. The NOVADUCK project brings together both private (2 companies, 1 SME) and public sector stakeholders (European reference laboratories and agencies on AI) from 4 European countries with the aim of developing and evaluating new highly protective and cost-effective avian influenza live vaccines for ducks, based on live viral vectors and in line with the DIVA strategy (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals).
Project Number: SSPE-CT-2006-44217
