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House members question APHIS on avian influenza

Members of the House want to know what steps USDA is taking to mitigate highly pathogenic avian influenza.  During a hearing of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, USDA veterinarian Dr. Alecia Naugle said it’s a whole-of-industry response and, “We do provide cooperative agreement funding directly to states that are impacted by HPAI to assist with their response as well as education and outreach with those local producers.”
When asked if there is an end to the current HPAI outbreak, USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt told subcommittee members she cannot predict the end of the current outbreak but USDA is incorporating lessons learned from the 2015 outbreak. “Looking at and evaluating biosecurity and what more can we do on biosecurity because we know that it’s the one most effective thing in reducing lateral spread, but also how we’re looking at and reducing the attractiveness of wild birds because we know the virus load is very strong in the wild bird population.”

The subcommittee is evaluating existing animal disease and prevention efforts in preparation for the new farm bill.