Avian flu vaccine trials held in North Carolina. How could they help California condors?

There is a surge of optimism in the California Condor Recovery Program.

Researchers are seeing positive results after vaccinating 20 black vultures against highly pathogenic avian influenza.

It’s part of their efforts to protect their cousins, California condors, from the deadly disease.

There is a sense of urgency to develop an appropriate vaccine for California condors after 21 of the giant, critically endangered birds died due to HPAI in Arizona this spring.

Although the Arizona outbreak appears to be over, the 96 free-flying condors in Central California — San Simeon, Big Sur and Pinnacles — are still in danger.

“Wildlife officials anticipate HPAI to spike during migration seasons and the potential for condors to be affected by the virus remains,” Blackford said.

How are avian flu vaccine trials going?

The vaccine trials are being conducted at the Carolina Raptor Center, outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The black vultures, which are in the same family as California condors, received the vaccine on May 16 and June 5.

As of June 16, all 20 of the vaccinated vultures “appear to be in good health with no vaccine site reactions,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Ashleigh Blackford said.

Three weeks after the black vultures received vaccinations, “two individuals demonstrated clear positive titers” — lab tests that measure the presence and the volume of antibodies in blood — and “several individuals indicated marginal antibody response,” Blackford wrote in her report.

“Having demonstrated that the vaccine in the single and double dose application was safe in black vultures,” the next step in the trials is to “implement vaccinations in condors in managed care,” Blackford explained.

On or about June 25, three condors living in captivity will receive a “single dose to verify (the vaccine’s) safety,” Blackford said.

The Ventana Wildlife Society — among the custodians of the California Condor Recovery Program — said it is “elated that safety trials with surrogate vulture species” are proving to be successful thus far.

“Our thoughts continue to be with our partners in Arizona and The Peregrine Fund who lost 21 condors,” the VWS said on its website.

HPAI outbreak threatens Central California flock

Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first detected in China in 1996 in domestic waterfowl, according to the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC).

In 2003, the extremely infectious virus re-emerged, causing poultry outbreaks across Asia, the group said.

Around 2005, wild birds began spreading HPAI in the Middle East, Europe and the United States, according to NETEC.

An estimated 60 million birds, mostly poultry, have died worldwide from HPAI, including birds in Monterey County.

Cases involving turkey vultures, snowy plovers and several species of waterfowl have been documented in Monterey.

That puts the spread of the virus “dangerously close to the free-flying flock in Central California,” the VWS website says. “The HPAI is all around us now, so it is not a matter of if but when an outbreak will occur.”

If you see a bird that’s lethargic, uncoordinated dull or unresponsive, and holding its head in an unusual position and walking in circles, do not touch it, the Ventana Wildlife Society warns.

Instead, contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

If you see a sick or deceased California condor, call Joe Burnett or Pinnacles National Park at 831-389-4486 (extension 42756).