The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed legislators on Wednesday that the agency is making preparatory measures in case the current avian flu is able to mutate and transmit to humans on a massive scale.
The Food and Drug Administration informed legislators on Wednesday that the agency is making preparatory measures in case the current avian flu is able to mutate and transmit to humans on a massive scale.
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told the Senate Appropriations Committee that although risk to the public is low, early investment is critical: "If we institute the countermeasures now, and reduce the spread of the virus … we’re much less likely to see a mutation that jumps to humans for which we’re ill-prepared."
"So we’ve got to have testing. Gotta have antivirals, and we need to have a vaccine ready to go. So we’ve been busy, getting prepared for if the virus does mutate in a way that jumps into humans on a larger level," Califf told the senators. During the hearing, Califf presented the FDA’s 2025 budget of $7.2 billion, which is a $341 million increase over 2024’s budget. He also described the "largest reorganization" in the history of the FDA with increased attention to food safety.
Bird Flu Robert Califf Vaccine
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