May 14, 2024

 

US allocates over US$100 million for enhanced bird flu surveillance

US health officials are allocating over US$100 million to bolster surveillance of bird flu in cattle and humans amid growing concerns that the outbreak has spread more extensively than reported, Bloomberg reported.

 

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will utilise the funding to detect and track the H5N1 virus, which has been spreading among wild birds, poultry, and domestic cattle.

 

The CDC's response to health crises has come under scrutiny following criticism for inadequate early testing for emerging threats like Covid and the monkeypox virus. Although only one H5N1 infection has been recorded in a person in the US so far, scientists warn that the virus has the potential to mutate into a more transmissible and dangerous form.

 

The CDC will use US$34 million to test for and analyse viral sequences, while US$29 million will be dedicated to tracing and monitoring individuals who may have come into contact with the virus. Additional funds will be allocated to studying vaccine candidates and monitoring wastewater sites. The CDC is also distributing protective equipment to farm workers, prioritizing those with infected herds.

 

Observation of the virus has been inconsistent. Some dairy farms have hesitated to invite the CDC for surveillance due to the potential financial impact if sick cattle are found. Migrant workers staffing farms are wary of government officials, fearing job loss if they show signs of exposure to the virus. No states have invited the CDC to conduct testing, creating gaps in understanding the outbreak's scope.

 

The CDC maintains that the risk to humans is low. However, six new farms reported infected cattle this week, up from the previous count of 36 farms in nine states, raising concerns over the virus's spread.

 

Approximately 30 people have been tested for H5N1 this year, and 220 have been monitored for symptoms. The CDC is prepared to deploy epidemiological teams but is awaiting invitations from states, said Director Mandy Cohen in an interview on Monday.

 

The US Department of Agriculture is providing funding to dairy farms dealing with cattle outbreaks, including financial incentives to distribute protective equipment. Farms could receive up to US$28,000 each over the next 120 days, including reimbursements for veterinarian costs and testing if they help increase herd surveillance.

 

The FDA will dedicate an additional US$8 million to support milk supply surveillance and pasteurization. The agency reported in April that one in five milk samples contains fragments of the avian flu virus, but pasteurisation effectively kills it.

 

Tests for live virus in eggs have been negative, according to the FDA. The agency stated last week that it tested 297 retail dairy samples, all of which were negative.

 

-      Bloomberg