USDA Outlines Plan to Stop Bird Flu Outbreak, Lower Egg Prices
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins detailed her organization’s plans to combat the bird flu and quell the concerns of rising grocery store costs.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a strategic $1 billion plan to stop the spread of H5N1 (bird flu) viruses and protect the US poultry industry, according to a news release.1
“The Biden administration did little to address the repeated outbreaks and high egg prices that followed,” Rollins wrote. “By contrast, the Trump administration is taking the issue seriously.”
While human bird flu cases (70) remain at a minimum and no human-to-human contact has been reported, a majority of the focus for bird flu has been given to poultry and the farms they live on. As of this week, over 166 million poultry and over 12,000 wild birds have been affected by the virus, according to recent CDC data.2
USDA will assist those impacted by bird flu outbreaks, explore alternative import-export options, and develop vaccine and therapeutic technology. | image credit: mehaniq41 / stock.adobe.com
READ MORE: Dead Birds on Lake Michigan Shore Raise Bird Flu Concerns in Chicago
On top of millions previously dedicated to combat the bird flu in 2024, along with other government organizations, USDA plans to allocate $500 million for biosecurity, $400 million to impacted farmers, and $100 million for vaccine research.1 This is yet another instance of significant money being distributed to the appropriate groups necessary to stop the spread.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) dedicated funds as early as last May, when human bird flu cases were under 5.3 As recently as this past January, HHS gave Moderna almost $600 million to develop a bird flu vaccine candidate.4 And while HHS and USDA continue to allocate funds, minimal movement to eradicating bird flu has been reported.
With USDA’s 5-pronged plan backed by $1 billion in capital, however, experts are hoping that a targeted, short-term approach can have quick and effective results. The 5 prongs of USDA’s plan focus on actions designed to assist those impacted by bird flu outbreaks, explore alternative import-export options, and develop vaccine and therapeutic technology.1
The plan includes steps to: invest in gold-standard biosecurity measures for all US poultry producers; increase relief to aid farmers and accelerate repopulation; remove unnecessary regulatory burdens on the chicken and egg industry to further innovation and reduce consumer prices; explore pathways toward vaccines, therapeutics, and other strategies for protecting egg-laying chickens to reduce instances of depopulation; and consider temporary import-export options to reduce costs on consumers and evaluate international best practices, according to the organization’s press release.
With $500 million going to biosecurity, USDA funds will be used in this capacity to increase sanitation, restrict unauthorized access to farms, improve hygiene, and create a safer atmosphere where poultry are less susceptible to bird flu. Another $400 million will go to farmers with infected flocks and give them the opportunity to receive compensation for any dollars lost from an outbreak.5
Finally, $100 million will be dedicated to vaccine research, which experts agree is a more questionable allocation of resources, compared with the funds dedicated to biosecurity and farmer compensation.
“Importantly, the agency stopped short of authorizing the use of a bird flu vaccine for poultry in the United States. US poultry producers have strongly resisted vaccinating their flocks because America is a leading exporter, and many countries won’t accept birds that have been vaccinated,” wrote Brenda Goodman for CNN.5 “The World Organization for Animal Health says vaccination may now be a necessary measure to control the spread of bird flu, which has moved from being a seasonal scourge to becoming a year-round threat for many different species of mammals, including dairy cattle.”
The bird flu was first detected in a human in the US back in April 2022. While there were no further human cases throughout the following 2 years, outbreaks came back to the US in 2024 and the bird flu has grown into a more concerning public health issue.2 Despite the government’s clear dedication to stopping the virus at its source, the road ahead remains unclear.
“American farmers need relief, and American consumers need affordable food,” concluded Rollins.1 “To every family struggling to buy eggs: We hear you, we’re fighting for you, and help is on the way.”
READ MORE: Infectious Disease Resource Center
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