Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Announce Initiative to Vaccinate Livestock Industry Workers Against Bird Flu

Thursday, August 1st, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday a $10 million initiative to vaccinate livestock industry workers against seasonal flu in hopes of protecting workers and reducing the risk of a new version of bird flu from emerging.

According to Colleen Kottke with Wisconsin State Farmr, as of July 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has detected the bird flu virus (H5N1) in poultry flocks in nearly every state since 2022.

The virus has also been found in over 170 dairy herds in 13 states since March when it was first found in a dairy herd in Texas. Farm workers having daily contact with poultry and dairy cows are especially at risk for contracting the virus.

Workers culling nearly 2 million laying hens at two poultry farms in Weld County, Colorado, were exposed to the virus, with nine testing positive. Four dairy farm workers contracted the virus in Texas, Michigan and Colorado.

Despite increased outbreaks, CDC officials say all cases of human infection so far have been mild and are believed to have been spread from direct contact with infected chickens and cows.

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