The Biden administration is committing $306 million to strengthen the nation's response to the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, according to a Jan. 3 HHS news release shared with Becker's. The commitment aims to monitor and prepare for potential public health risks associated with the virus.
As part of a broader effort to improve the country's readiness for pandemics, the funding will focus on enhancing hospital preparedness, early stage-research for therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines, according to the news release. A significant portion of the funding, about $103 million, will be directed toward state and local initiatives, including surveillance efforts and outreach to high-risk groups, such as livestock workers.
While the CDC continues to assess the risk to the general public as low, HHS and the Department of Agriculture are working closely with state, local and industry partners to safeguard both human and animal health.
"While the risk to humans remains low, we are always preparing for any possible scenario that could arise," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "These investments are critical to continuing our disease surveillance, laboratory testing and monitoring efforts alongside our partners at USDA."
The Biden administration's decision to allocate additional funding comes just weeks before President Biden leaves office. The funding cannot be rescrinded by the incoming Donald Trump administration, as it is drawn from already approved HHS funds, The New York Times reported Jan. 2.
The new funding includes several key allocations:
- $183 million will be awarded to regional, state and local preparedness programs, with notable portions directed to the Hospital Preparedness program, the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center, the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers and the Special Pathogen Treatment Centers for Avian Influenza Preparedness.
- $111 million will be allocated to the CDC to enhance local, state and national monitoring efforts, including $103 million for increased testing and outreach to high-risk populations like livestock workers.
- $11 million will be awarded to the National Institutes of Health to fund additional research into potential medical countermeasures for H5N1.
While most of the 66 human confirmed cases since spring 2024 have been mild, the virus' spread in poultry and dairy cows raises fears of mutations that could increase its threat to humans.