In an effort to stop the ongoing avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak from becoming widespread and serious, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week earmarked $10 million to more aggressively get farm workers to receive the annual flu vaccine, hoping that would prevent more serious illnesses from both seasonal flu and bird flu and the avian influenza virus from mutating.
“The allocation includes $5 million earmarked for seasonal flu vaccines and another $5 million for educational and training programs aimed at protecting farm workers from bird flu,” the agency wrote. The program apparently means free flu vaccines for qualified farm workers.
“While the seasonal flu vaccine does not directly protect against bird flu, vaccinating farm workers is a strategic move to prevent co-infection with both seasonal flu and bird flu.” And preventing seasonal flu among farm workers could reduce the likelihood of new influenza strains emerging through mutation.
This week’s initiative comes after three more farm workers in a Colorado county contracted the virus after culling infected chickens. While their symptoms were mild and they are recovering, the disease is spreading among poultry and dairy cows, and now at least 13 farm workers -- nine in July alone -- have contracted the virus.