South Dakota scientists advance vaccine to fight poultry outbreaks

Breakthrough offers hope against avian disease that's cost U.S. producers millions

Researchers from South Dakota State University have developed vaccine candidates for avian metapneumovirus, a severe respiratory virus that has caused significant economic losses to the U.S. poultry industry. (Courtesy photo)

Researchers in Brookings say they have developed promising vaccine candidates to combat a fast-spreading poultry virus that has caused millions of dollars in losses for farmers across the Upper Midwest.

The breakthrough comes roughly two years after South Dakota State University scientists were the first to identify two highly contagious strains of avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) that surfaced in U.S. poultry flocks in early 2024.

Researchers have now created two types of vaccine candidates aimed at protecting chickens and turkeys from one of the virus strains. Additional testing is planned to determine how well the vaccines perform against the second strain.

Minnehaha County rallying groups around homeless plan