Iowa — Farm groups are urging state officials to continue funding the development of livestock vaccines for bird flu and other foreign animal diseases like African Swine Fever and Food and Mouth Disease.
Kelli Wicks is with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.
Joel Harris is CEO and co-founder of Genvax Technologies, which is based in the Iowa State University Research Park. The start-up has received a state grant and a 250-thousand-dollar state loan.
A decade ago, Harris was involved in previous research that developed a vaccine for PEDv — a deadly virus that has killed millions of piglets. Harris says developing a bird flu vaccine is essential.
The Iowa Farm Bureau is calling for state support of research into how bird flu is transmitted to cattle. State and federal officials have confirmed cases of bird flu in 13 Iowa dairy herds.
