Take action to help stop the spread of bird flu

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been sweeping through poultry farms and wild bird populations in the United States and throughout the world at a startling pace. As of July 2024, 14 people have been infected with the virus in the current outbreak, and these numbers continue to grow at an alarming pace.

Human cases linked to the virus have underscored the urgency of comprehensive measures to contain its spread. To protect against the further spread of HPAI and mitigate its impact on both animals and humans, we urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take the following actions:

• Continue and expand testing milk for bird flu at dairy farms, and increase surveillance for bird flu in all other food-producing animals.
• Develop and implement a vaccination program for food-producing animals.
• Stop feeding poultry litter to cattle.
• Provide protective equipment and vaccinations for workers.
• Support local pasture-based farms with high animal welfare standards.