usda provides additional $502 million in continued efforts against avian influenza

WASHINGTON — The USDA is providing $502 million under the Animal Health Protection Act to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to prepare for potential additional detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the United States.

USDA continues to successfully combat HPAI in the United States. In May 2022, there were a total of 18 commercial poultry HPAI detections. In May 2023, there were 0 commercial poultry detections, a decrease of 100 percent from the

(Continued from page 7) previous year. Additionally, there has not been a case of HPAI in commercial poultry since April 19, 2023, or in backyard poultry since May 18, 2023.

However, HPAI is still prevalent

The USDA says to cook eggs at 160 degrees F.

• Preparing salads in many parts of the world and in wild bird populations and the threat remains high. This funding transfer will ensure that USDA can continue to stay on top of this outbreak and be ready to respond if detections increase, the agency noted. Previously, USDA has invested more than $793 million in emergency funding to respond to this outbreak by implementing quarantine restrictions, depopulating affected flocks, disposing of depopulated birds, cleaning and eliminating the virus from affected premises, and

The USDA says it is important that the utensils and dishes used to prepare a salad are cleaned. Also, a person must wash their hands before and after preparing the food. When cooking raw meat and preparing cold meals, be sure that the dishes and utensils used for raw meat are separated from the dishes and utensils used for cold meals.

Chicken and eggs must be cooked fully and chilled properly before putting into any cold meals. A person must avoid the food reaching the “danger zone.” The food must not sit in temperatures between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F. Always keep cold meals at 40 degrees F or less.

• Picnic foods that won’t spoil Healthus.news.com gives examples of foods that can be taken on a picnic that won’t spoil. These include: