A third human tested positive for avian influenza, or bird flu, in China and later died last month, according to a CDC report. This is the first reported death from the virus. The other two infected people were also in China and tested positive in 2022.
So, what is USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) doing to address the virus?
The Bird Flu Game Plan
USDA hosted a stakeholder roundtable discussion on Friday where department officials said they are testing four bird flu vaccines as part of its “no stone unturned” fight against the virus.
The department will be testing one vaccine from Zoetis, one from Merck Animal Health and two from USDA’s Ag Research Service.
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Zoetis claims it delivered its vaccine to USDA’s stockpile in 2016, after a bird flu outbreak in 2015; however, the company says USDA never tapped into the stockpile.
Other Tools in the Bird Flu Toolbox
Beyond vaccine trials, USDA previously established bird flu controls that include:
• Commercial bird tracking
• Disease surveillance
• Documentation of domestic and international trade
• Indemnity payments
• Education and guidance on cleaning, disinfection and disposal
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According to Kevin Shea, USDA’s acting deputy secretary, these tools have enabled producers to “successfully” mitigate the bird flu outbreak in the U.S.
