The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially concluded its emergency response to the bird flu outbreak, signaling a major shift in how the agency is handling the H5N1 virus. The outbreak, which led to infections in dozens of people, spread to cattle, and contributed to a spike in egg prices, has now subsided enough for the CDC to scale back.
According to Bloomberg, the CDC ended its emergency designation last week. From now on, bird flu updates will be grouped with the agency’s regular seasonal flu reporting. The CDC also announced it will release monthly updates detailing the number of people monitored and tested for H5N1.
This pivot in strategy isn’t limited to the federal level. Several states that were significantly impacted by the virus are also winding down their emergency operations. California terminated its emergency declaration in April, and Washington—which recorded 11 human cases last year—is reducing its response as well.
The former deputy director of the CDC, who stepped down earlier this year, supported the decision to end the emergency designation, citing the absence of recent human infections as a clear justification.
