Photo: BSS

MYMENSINGH, July 27, 2026 (BSS) - Researchers at Bangladesh Agricultural 
University (BAU) have achieved encouraging results in the development of a 
low-cost vaccine against duck plague using a locally isolated duck plague 
virus, with expectations of providing more than 90 percent protection against 
the deadly disease.

The findings were presented on Monday at the concluding workshop of the 
research project held at the Microbiology Gallery of the university. The 
project was funded by the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP).

Presenting the project's progress and achievements, Principal Investigator 
Professor Dr. Md. Bahanur Rahman said duck plague is a highly fatal viral 
disease, with mortality rates ranging from 40 to 100 percent. 

The primary objective of the research was to develop an attenuated vaccine. 
However, following a request from the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), 
the research team also worked on inactivated and DNA vaccines.

According to Prof. Rahman, while the inactivated vaccine did not produce the 
desired results, both the DNA and oral vaccines demonstrated promising 
outcomes. The vaccine is now awaiting field trials, and if all regulatory 
procedures are completed successfully, it is expected to reach duck farmers 
within the next one to one-and-a-half years.

He expressed optimism that the vaccine would provide more than 90 percent 
protection against duck plague and, through the DLS, would make a significant 
contribution to Bangladesh's duck farming sector.

The workshop was attended by Coordinator of the University Committee for 
Advanced Studies and Research (CASR) Prof Dr. Md. Samsul Alam as the chief 
guest. 

Special guests included Director of the Bangladesh Agricultural University 
Research System (BAURES) Prof Dr. M. Hammadur Rahman, Director of the 
Mymensingh Divisional Livestock Office Dr. Shamsad Jahan Shiraji, and LDDP 
Chief Technical Coordinator Dr. Md. Jahangir Hossain.

Prof Dr. Mohammad Ferdousur Rahman Khan, Prof of the Department of 
Microbiology and Hygiene and Co-Investigator of the project, delivered the 
welcome address.

In his remarks, Prof Dr. Samsul Alam said that duck plague is extremely 
difficult to treat once birds become infected, making vaccination the most 
effective preventive measure. 

He said that BAU's Department of Microbiology and Hygiene has a long-standing 
tradition of vaccine research, and the current study using a local duck 
plague virus has established an important foundation for developing an 
affordable and effective vaccine. 

He also expressed hope that the vaccine's effectiveness could be further 
improved in the future by addressing the evolving characteristics of the 
virus.