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4mo ago

U.S. Allocates $306 Million to Strengthen Bird Flu Preparedness

The funding will support monitoring, testing, and local preparedness programs as concerns grow over H5N1's spread and potential risks.

The 2024–25 seasonal influenza vaccine doesn’t prevent H5N1 bird flu but could play a pivotal role in preventing a pandemic.
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US President Joe Bidenis allocating more than $300 million to the nation's bird flu response

Overview

  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $306 million in funding to combat the spread of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S.
  • The funding includes $183 million for regional, state, and local preparedness, with $90 million going to hospital readiness programs and $43 million for special pathogen treatment centers.
  • The CDC is allocating $111 million to enhance disease surveillance, expand testing, and conduct outreach to high-risk populations, such as livestock workers.
  • Recent genetic analysis of the virus revealed mutations that may increase its ability to infect human airways, though human-to-human transmission has not been detected.
  • California and Iowa have declared public health emergencies as the virus affects millions of birds, cattle, and other animals, leading to food supply disruptions and price increases.