As bird flu outbreaks continue to affect animals, experts answer questions about keeping pets and their owners healthy

The move has been delayed in part because of concerns it could jeopardize chicken exports worth billions of dollars a year.

Vaccines could be a key means of suppressing bird flu and avoiding the slaughter of millions of chickens, which is blamed for egg prices averaging nearly $5 a dozen.

Chicken meat producers remain the most resistant to vaccines because of concerns they could harm meat exports, which totaled nearly $4.7 billion last year.