In a significant step towards combating the H5N1 bird flu, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced its plan to allocate roughly $306 million. This funding primarily aims to augment the federal government’s response and preparedness for this threatening flu strain.
The lion’s share of this strategic funding, estimated around $183 million, will be entrusted to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. It will be equitably apportioned across local, state, and regional preparedness initiatives. Included in these funds is an impressive $90 million allocation for the Hospital Preparedness Program.
The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center will be granted $10 million, with $26 million earmarked for the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers. An additional $43 million has been provisioned for the Special Pathogen Treatment Centers Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Activities, while $14 million will boost the capacities of the National Disaster Medical System.
Apart from this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can expect to receive $111 million to enhance their monitoring efforts, thus strengthening their proactive response mechanisms. Concurrently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be awarded an $11 million fund to intensify research into potential medical countermeasures against H5N1.
Source: https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2025-01-06-hhs-awards-306-million-support-h5n1-bird-flu-response