US to Invest $100 Million in Bird Flu Research, Prevention

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to invest about $100 million in research projects aimed at developing treatments and vaccines to combat avian influenza in poultry.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the US will also increase egg imports from South Korea.

This move aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to stabilize egg prices, with South Korea joining Turkey and Brazil in supplying additional eggs to the US market.

Since the outbreak began in 2022, bird flu has led to the deaths of nearly 170 million egg-laying hens, turkeys, and other poultry, significantly disrupting supply chains.

Egg prices in the US have soared to record levels due to supply shortages, while cases of avian influenza have also been detected in humans and cattle.

The newly allocated funding will be distributed to vaccine and treatment manufacturers, as well as state agencies, universities, and other eligible entities, according to the USDA.

Rollins revealed that she has held discussions with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on strategies to prevent further spread of the virus.

Historically, the USDA has mandated culling infected flocks to curb transmission—an approach widely supported by veterinarians and public health experts as the most effective containment strategy.

In February, Rollins announced a broader initiative to invest up to $1 billion in controlling the spread of bird flu and addressing rising egg prices.

While the USDA has not yet approved any vaccines, officials confirmed on Thursday that they are actively evaluating candidate vaccines that could effectively counter the virus's mutations.