United States: The National Academy of Sciences canceled their preventive measures workshop against bird flu human infections following the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) orders not to work on further event development, as Reuters reported.
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The bird flu created an epidemic that infected seventy individuals, most of whom worked on farms since it rapidly circulated across the cattle population and chicken stocks throughout the recent year.
CDC officials from the previous presidency under Joe Biden warned that additional virus propagation creates opportunities for it to adapt and increase its ability to cause human infections.
The Department of Health and Human Services, under which the CDC operates, chose to avoid responding to Reuters’ request to cancel the workshop.
The government under President Donald Trump demonstrated a strong commitment to contain bird flu through farm biosecurity and other aggressive measures.
US CDC cancels science group workshop on preventing human bird flu infections. https://t.co/00SwGjHpq1 pic.twitter.com/XJ0VM0KlQr
— Farmtario (@farmtario) April 30, 2025
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine planned to host their workshop on June 26 and 27 to examine suitable personal protective equipment practices that shield farmworkers and veterinarians from bird flu exposure.
The meeting organizer consisted of workplace health specialists who partnered with veterinarians along with a poultry and egg industry representative based on website documentation.
Jenna Gibbs, who directs operations for Ag Health & Safety Alliance, was notified by email on Monday that the scheduled PPE training program had been canceled.
“Unfortunately, the National Academies received a contract termination notification from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the workshop, and accordingly, it has been canceled,” Gibbs, a workshop organizer, reported to Reuters.
The farmers asked for the workshop following an earlier March forum organized by the National Academies on national bird flu responses, as Gibbs explained.
“We were in full planning mode,” Gibbs added.