I'm not saying PBS isn't a reliable source, but the article seems to try to elicit more of a "scare factor" to its audience rather than present new information. None of its sources are sited in the article. I'm now wondering if anyone has the article that shows how they determined the birds are still infected with the virus but it doesn't develop tumors and does not kill them. I do have a very strong science background and would love to read the information.
All that I have read states the virus needs 3 weeks to replicate in the body before it starts to attack the chicken's nervous system. It takes another 3 weeks (minimum) for the virus to damage the chicken's body enough for it to become sick or start showing signs of illness. This is why chicks that are exposed to the virus during the first week of life don't get sick until they are between 6 and 12 weeks, or even older. An extremely virulent strain could possibly do its work faster, but I don't see any evidence how it could kill all chickens within 10 days of being exposed.
Farmers have been keeping turkeys with their chickens for decades in order for their chickens to build some immunity from the turkey strain of Marek's. This is the model the vaccine was based off. I also think that as the virus evolves (as is implied in the article) the vaccine will evolve right along with it. Vaccine companies already know there is a demand for better vaccines that are more consumer friendly. They will put their research where the money is.
All that I have read states the virus needs 3 weeks to replicate in the body before it starts to attack the chicken's nervous system. It takes another 3 weeks (minimum) for the virus to damage the chicken's body enough for it to become sick or start showing signs of illness. This is why chicks that are exposed to the virus during the first week of life don't get sick until they are between 6 and 12 weeks, or even older. An extremely virulent strain could possibly do its work faster, but I don't see any evidence how it could kill all chickens within 10 days of being exposed.
Farmers have been keeping turkeys with their chickens for decades in order for their chickens to build some immunity from the turkey strain of Marek's. This is the model the vaccine was based off. I also think that as the virus evolves (as is implied in the article) the vaccine will evolve right along with it. Vaccine companies already know there is a demand for better vaccines that are more consumer friendly. They will put their research where the money is.