HHS directs $306 million to avian flu response as virus strikes more US flocks

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that it is awarding $306 million more in funding to support the nation’s response to H5N1 avian flu.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, JD, said in a statement that although the risk to humans remains low, federal officials are preparing for a range of scenarios. “These investments are critical to continuing our disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and monitoring efforts alongside our partners at USDA [US Department of Agriculture].”

The largest chunk of the funding, $183 million, is earmarked for regional, state, and local preparedness programs, such as shoring up hospital readiness and boosting emerging-pathogens training and treatment, focusing on avian flu activities.

Meanwhile, $111 million of the funding will allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to better equip jurisdictions to monitor people exposed to the virus and to boost the production and distribution of diagnostic test kits. The remaining $11 million will be awarded by the National Institutes of Health for more research on countermeasures against the H5N1 virus.

Virus strikes more poultry, suspected in wild bird die-off

In other developments, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today confirmed more poultry outbreaks in two states. 

In South Carolina, the virus turned up at a gamebird producer in Spartanburg County, the state’s first detection since May. The virus was also confirmed in Miner Country, South Dakota, in a poultry flock that has 1,500 birds.

Elsewhere, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said yesterday that avian flu is suspected in the deaths of about 200 snow geese found on December 30 in the greater Allentown area. The dead birds were recovered from two sites, one in Northampton County and the other in Lehigh County. Results haven’t been confirmed yet, but officials said avian flu is suspected, because sick wild birds were also observed at the two locations.

Over the past few weeks, wildlife officials in other states have issued warnings about deaths in wild birds, including neighboring Ohio, as well as Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Louisiana.