H5N1 BIRD FLU H5N1 bird flu updates: Stories here include the risk of avian flu transmission to humans, what would be needed for wide availability of a H5N1 vaccine, potential contamination of milk, and scientific concerns about possible genetic mutations.

https://www.statnews.com/topic/h5n1-bird-flu/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9-QMnt64Cd8AKF1k9xX9PaIpk-jgZ6oXH2Ps16L9XcXSG6phBKKT3hdqnxcoRiQvWFfnPxWWXXalwGn4YoXdc5lifLSQ&_hsmi=306900761&utm_content=306900761&utm_source=hs_email Food regulation in the U.S. is sort of like a riddle. It’s the job of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to regulate liquid egg whites, for example. But if you’re grabbing a dozen eggs in a carton just a shelf down, it’s the Food and Drug Administration that’s in charge. Unfortunately, the stakes of this riddle just got higher: With H5N1 bird flu spreading among dairy cattle, experts say that the longtime fractured nature of the U.S. food regulation system could hamper the federal response. Three of my STAT colleagues in D.C. spoke with more than 20 former agency officials and independent experts, many of whom described the relationship between USDA and FDA as being punctuated by tense turf battles. In the past, the fragmented responsibilities between the FDA and sub-agencies within the USDA led to inefficient investigations and stunted surveillance testing in cases involving E. coli, salmonella, and tuberculosis. Read more on how much the historic tension between agencies is raising concerns now about bird flu. USDA, FDA turf battles hamper responses to outbreaks like H5N1 bird flu Rachel Cohrs Zhang Lizzy Lawrence Nicholas Florko By Rachel Cohrs Zhang , Lizzy Lawrence , and Nicholas Florko https://www.statnews.com/2024/05/14/bird-flu-dairy-cattle-federal-aid-turf-war-usda-fda/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9cYvg3gRnm5szkT1qUwJXgt2EzWdpYKSzBafoFFVPMxWOi5_2xiy27DPkaqk6YLaNIEc0c9AyUCsaqm48zdnXhnvf3tw&_hsmi=306900761&utm_content=306900761&utm_source=hs_email