The CDC is increasing testing capacity for the H5N1 bird flu virus in people as the outbreak continues in dairy cows. The agency is distributing tests to local public health labs and working with commercial labs to build additional tests. Testing among farmworkers has been slow, with only 53 people tested and three positive cases. The CDC is also developing non-virulent control materials for validation studies. The federal government is supporting the development of pandemic influenza vaccines targeting H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses. There are concerns about potential human-to-human spread and efforts to prepare for a possible expansion of the outbreak.
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U.S. expanding capacity to test people for H5N1 bird flu
