Lubango: Huila's animal vaccine production laboratory is set to manufacture 800,000 doses of the Newcastle disease vaccine by next February, as disclosed by the laboratory manager, In¡cio Filipe. This laboratory stands as the sole facility in the country dedicated to producing this vaccine, crucial for protecting birds, particularly chickens, from Newcastle disease. The production is initiated from a batch of fertilized eggs sourced from Luanda.

According to Angola Press News Agency, of the projected 800,000 doses, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has already ordered 500,000 doses, which are scheduled for delivery within 30 days. In¡cio Filipe explained that the 800,000 doses remain a forecast as the eggs are currently being tested for quality assurance before the production commences. He highlighted the challenges faced by the laboratory in coordinating laboratory-field activities due to inadequate transportation.

Filipe emphasized the importance of conducting tests outside the laboratory to account for environmental conditions where the animals are raised. He assured that despite these challenges, the vaccine's quality has been affirmed by positive feedback from breeders. Additionally, Filipe mentioned the necessity to replace outdated equipment, which is over a decade old, to ensure satisfactory results. New equipment, including a centrifuge, reagents, culture media, and incubators, is expected to arrive shortly to bolster vaccine production.

Data from the Provincial Department of the Institute of Veterinary Services in Huila showed that in 2025, there were four outbreaks of Newcastle disease with 156 reported cases, resulting in a number of bird fatalities. The laboratory, inaugurated in May 2012 and overseen by the Institute of Veterinary Research, currently employs eight technicians dedicated to testing and producing the Newcastle disease vaccine.