President Biden has committed $306 million to increase monitoring, testing and response to H5N1 bird flu across the United States.
According to a press release, “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would award $306 million dollars to continue its H5N1 Avian Flu response. While CDC’s assessment of the risk of avian influenza to the general public remains low, USDA and HHS continue to closely collaborate with Federal, State, local, industry and other stakeholders to protect human health, animal health, and food safety.”
“While the risk to humans remains low, we are always preparing for any possible scenario that could arise. These investments are critical to continuing our disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and monitoring efforts alongside our partners at USDA,” said Secretary Xavier Becerra.
“Preparedness is the key to keeping Americans healthy and our country safe. We will continue to ensure our response is strong, well equipped, and ready for whatever is needed.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently confirmed the first “severe” case of bird flu in the US.
The CDC tested samples from the sufferer, a 65-year-old man from Louisiana, and confirmed worrying new mutations.
The mutations affect the virus’s hemagglutinin gene and could make the virus more transmissible in humans.
In particular, the mutations “may result in increased virus binding to α2-6 cell receptors found in the upper respiratory tract of humans.”
Hellbound and Down 