CHICAGO, June 21— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making a new plan to use vaccines to fight bird flu. This virus has killed millions of birds across the country since 2022 and caused big losses to egg and turkey farmers.
The USDA is working with state leaders and people in the poultry industry to build a strong and clear plan. They also want to make sure the plan does not affect the export of U.S. chicken and eggs to other countries.
Bird flu has caused over 175 million birds to be killed to stop the spread. Egg prices went up sharply, stores limited egg sales, and more eggs were imported from other countries like Brazil and South Korea.
To reduce future risks, the USDA plans to spend as much as $100 million on vaccines and testing. A detailed plan is expected in July.
But there is a problem. Some poultry producers support the vaccine, while others worry. Egg and turkey farmers support the vaccine to protect their birds, while chicken meat producers worry that vaccination could lead to export bans from other countries.
The proposal includes early vaccination for chicks, extra doses later, and frequent testing of flocks. Birds that test positive will still be removed to keep the virus from spreading.
One large egg farmer in Arizona lost almost 95% of his birds to the virus. He says the vaccine could help stop more losses.
The USDA has already paid farmers over $1 billion for the birds they had to kill. Many experts now believe that a vaccine plan is a better long-term solution.
