Abu dhabi: A team of scientists in New South Wales has developed the world's first mRNA vaccine designed to protect livestock from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral illness that poses a major threat to livestock.
According to Emirates News Agency, this FMD vaccine is unique as it is fully synthetic, making it safer and much faster to produce. The development of this innovative vaccine is a crucial part of the Minns Government's $1 billion biosecurity plan, aimed at safeguarding New South Wales' US$8 billion livestock sector and reinforcing national food security.
The vaccine has been developed in less than 18 months and has cost approximately $2.5 million.