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President's USDA Avian Flu Request Calls for $91 Million

As part of President Bush's broad plan to safeguard the United States against highly transmissible forms of avian influenza, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is requesting $91 million to supplement its international and domestic roles in controlling the spread of the disease.

Forms of the bird flue has been transmitted to humans in Asia. Tuesday President Bush outlined a request for the $7.1 billion National Strategy to Safeguard Against the Danger of Pandemic Influenza outlined by President Bush today.

"USDA is eager to enhance our already extensive efforts to prepare for and prevent an outbreak of a dangerous strain of avian influenza in our country," says Johanns.  "These funds will help us to intensify our surveillance here at home and deliver increased assistance to countries impacted by the disease, in hopes of preventing further spread of avian influenza."

As part of the integrated U.S. government response plan announced by President Bush, USDA will supplement its international and domestic roles in controlling the spread of avian influenza (AI).  These areas include disease surveillance, enhanced biosecurity of poultry farms, control of movement of birds and products that might contain the virus and encouraging industry practices that reduce risk.  Additionally, USDA must be fully prepared for the rapid and humane destruction of infected poultry, disposal of carcasses in a biosecure and environmentally acceptable manner and proper use of vaccination in poultry.

On the international level, $18 million would be available for bisosecurity and surveillance and diagnostic measures. This funding would advance USDA's collaboration on an initiative led by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) that builds on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN to prevent, control and eradicate AI where it currently exists in Asia.  USDA will work in partnership with the seven "high-focus" countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and China).

To accelerate domestic activities, $73 million in funding would be available for stockpiling animal vaccine, surveillance and diagnostics, smuggling intervention and trade compliance/ investigative and enforcement services, research and development, planning and preparedness and staffing and management.  The objective of these efforts will be to prevent and control H5 and H7 AI in the U.S. commercial broiler and live bird marketing system.