CDC Plans $10 Million to Combat Farm Worker Bird Flu

By Leah Douglas and Julie Steenhuysen

(Reuters) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday plans to invest $10 million to combat bird flu infections among farm workers. This includes allocating $5 million for seasonal flu vaccines to help prevent further spread and mutation of the virus.

Since 2022, bird flu has affected poultry flocks across nearly every U.S. state and more than 170 dairy herds in 13 states as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The CDC has documented 13 cases of the virus among poultry and dairy farm workers in Colorado, Michigan, and Texas. Notably, nine of these cases were identified in July among workers culling chickens on infected farms in Colorado.

CDC’s principal director, Nirav Shah, assured the media that the risk to the general public remains low. Currently, there are no pending human tests awaiting confirmation, although new human cases may arise in Colorado or other areas.

The CDC plans to direct $5 million to the National Center for Farmworker Health for education and training on bird flu protection measures. The other $5 million will fund seasonal flu vaccinations for farm workers. While the seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against bird flu specifically, it may help reduce the risk of concurrent infections, which could lead to new flu virus mutations.

“Preventing seasonal influenza for these workers, many of whom are also exposed to bird flu, may reduce risks of new strains of influenza emerging,” Shah stated.

The CDC aims to vaccinate the nation’s approximately 200,000 livestock workers during this flu shot season, collaborating with states to create effective outreach plans.

According to USDA undersecretary Eric Deeble, the agency believes it can halt the spread of bird flu among dairy cows and ultimately eradicate the disease.