Future funding for HPAI approved by USDA
The US Department of Agriculture has recently made an announcement regarding the allocation of funds to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks. Under the Animal Health Protection Act, a total of $502 million will be provided to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This financial support aims to enhance preparedness for future outbreaks and enable the USDA to effectively respond in case of an escalation in detections. Prior to this funding initiative, the USDA had already invested over $793 million in emergency funding. These resources were utilized for various measures, including the isolation of affected areas, the culling of poultry, the safe disposal of birds, the decontamination and eradication of the virus in affected regions, and the implementation of surveillance efforts. It is worth noting that there have been no instances of HPAI in commercial poultry since April 19, 2023, or in backyard poultry since May 18, 2023, according to the USDA.
