26 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | November/December 2024 BUILDING A SECURE VACCINE BANK The Government of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently announced the next step in developing a vaccine bank for foot and mouth disease (FMD). On Aug. 30, Public Services and Procurement Canada requested proposals on behalf of CFIA for a supply of vaccine products for the FMD vaccine bank. Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, says this will be essential if Canada experiences an FMD outbreak. “Foot and mouth disease, or FMD, spreads very rapidly through cloven hoof animals. With beef cattle being one of those, it’s a major concern for us to be prepared,” says Phinney. “We are very encouraged by the government’s move on the vaccine bank so we can roll this out as quickly as possible if there was ever a case to happen.” The successful applicant in the request for proposals will provide Canada with concentrated FMD vaccines, which could then quickly be converted into usable vaccines. Established in the 2023 budget, the project is estimated at $57.5 million, which will be spread over five years. Canada is currently FMD-free and has been since 1952. The disease is caused by a virus in the Picornaviridae family and can infect cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, as well as undomesticated animals such as deer, moose, and wild boars. The CFIA states that the disease can be identified by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. It is spread through animal-toanimal contact, feeding contaminated products, contaminated equipment, or through the air. Phinney says that the vaccine bank ‘BEFORE, WE FELT VULNERABLE BY NOT HAVING A SECURE VACCINE BANK’ CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES BUILDING AN FMD VACCINE BANK BY EMILY MCKINLAY Emily McKinlay photo
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