The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled a $1 billion strategy aimed at curbing the spread of bird flu and addressing the rising cost of eggs, a key issue in the upcoming 2024 election. In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins detailed the new plan, which will be partially funded through efficiency cuts within government departments. The initiative focuses on measures to control the virus without resorting to the use of a bird flu vaccine for poultry. US poultry producers have opposed vaccination due to concerns over international trade, as many countries refuse to accept vaccinated birds. The US remains a leading exporter of poultry products.
The World Organization for Animal Health has suggested that vaccination may now be essential to manage the year-round threat posed by bird flu, which has expanded beyond seasonal outbreaks to affect various mammal species, including dairy cattle. This development marks a significant shift in the approach to combating the disease.
This is a developing story and updates are expected as more details emerge.
— news from CNN