Govt plans local production of IBH vaccine amid poultry crisis

In a bid to combat the devastating Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) disease in poultry, the Government of Guyana is accelerating efforts to produce vaccines locally.
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha made this announcement during the recent ‘Guyana Dialogue’ programme, highlighting the administration’s commitment to revitalising the country’s poultry sector.
“You know there is a serious problem with the IBH disease, and we have suffered from that disease over the years. We have been working with the Poultry Producers Association. As a matter of fact, last year we gave them $30 million to import vaccine. We are now looking to produce our own vaccines in Guyana,” Mustapha stated.
The initiative aligns with President Dr Irfaan Ali’s promise at a previous Oil and Energy Conference, where he assured that Guyana would be self-sufficient in livestock vaccines by the end of 2025.

According to Mustapha, discussions are already underway to establish a vaccine production facility, with an investor and relevant authorities meeting to fast-track its development.
“Guyana will produce all our vaccine needs for the livestock industry. Only this morning I had a meeting with the investor and our people to set up the facility, so hopefully we can start to produce vaccines in Guyana. We are moving rapidly in terms of developing the poultry sector,” the Minister reassured.
IBH has been a pandemic in Guyana’s poultry industry since 2005 and with confirmation in 2006, causing substantial economic losses. The viral disease, caused by fowl adenoviruses (FAdV), severely affects the liver and kidneys of poultry, leading to symptoms such as depression, weakness, ruffled feathers, watery droppings, enlarged livers, and pale kidneys. The disease can result in mortality rates as high as 80 per cent in affected flocks.
The impact has been catastrophic for poultry farmers. Many have been forced to close their farms, while others face the looming threat of loan defaults due to lost production. Vaccination is a crucial tool in controlling IBH.
The Ministry of Agriculture has made substantial efforts to manage the disease through various initiatives. A total of $29 million has been allocated for vaccine procurement, alongside the recruitment of international experts, including poultry pathologists, virologists, and nutritionists, to enhance disease management.
Legislative support has been bolstered by new laws that strengthen regulatory frameworks and ensure hatchery compliance. Additionally, critical research has been conducted to isolate and type the virus, while a significant advancement in disease control was achieved with the development of an autogenous vaccine in 2021.
To further improve chick immunity and reduce disease transmission, the Ministry has implemented a strategy to source hatching eggs from vaccinated flocks.