DOGE Attack on NIOSH Weakens Workers’ Bird Flu Protections

As is often the case with this country’s public health threats, workers are on the front lines. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has taken the lead on developing the guidelines to protect workers from exposure to bird flu.

NIOSH respiratory protection experts have developed the recommendations for the proper respirators and other protective  equipment for bird flu. The recent cuts at NIOSH are part of the larger assault on the nation’s health agencies, and have a direct impact on the bird flu response and how well workers are protected.

NIOSH investigators have been part of the CDC field investigations of bird flu outbreaks. All the NIOSH epidemiologists, industrial hygienists, engineers, occupational physicians and scientists have been terminated. Other HHS experts at FDA and the CDC working on the response to bird flu have also been terminated, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff investigating the contamination of milk, meat and pet food with H5N1. There is no one left at NIOSH (or elsewhere in the government) to do this work.

There is no one left at NIOSH (or elsewhere in the government) to do this work.

In recent weeks, the reported outbreaks in poultry have been declining, but the risk remains as the Spring migration of wild birds who carry the virus continues. In April, new outbreaks in poultry have been reported in NY, CO, WI and most recently in SD. In the last 30 days there have been 41 outbreaks in poultry reported, 9 at commercial facilities, 32 in backyard flocks with more than 1.9 million birds affected.

In the dairy industry, outbreaks continue in ID, CA and NV, with 22 outbreaks in dairies reported in the last 30 days. USDA has confirmed more cases in mammals, including domestic cats in CA, CO and OH. And in the UK, the first known case of H5N1 in a sheep on a farm.

Meanwhile, no human cases of bird flu have been reported in the US since January. But there is great concern that cases are being missed, with farmworkers who are exposed and at high risk afraid to report symptoms or seek care due to the Trump administration’s broad sweep to identify undocumented immigrants and deport them.  New human cases that have resulted in death have been reported in India and Mexico.

The bird flu outbreaks have greatly affected the supply and price of eggs. Many smaller farms have been severely impacted. But a number of the larger farms have taken advantage of the crisis to raise the price of their eggs to exorbitant prices, recording record profits while also receiving compensation from USDA for their flocks that have been infected and culled.

Recent Media Reports of Bird Flu

Everything You Need to Know About Bird Flu Knowable Magazine, April 2, 2025

FDA bird flu testing efforts disrupted by RFK Jr.’s layoffs, officials say CBS News. April 3, 2025

Bird flu in SD: Millions of birds dead, worry shifts to humans KTIV.com, March 26, 2025

RFK Jr.’s let bird flu spread plan ‘makes no sense’ DW, March 27, 2025

Bird flu could be heading north this spring with fewer federal health officials working to stop it NBC News. April 2, 2025

Trump’s Immigration Tactics Obstruct Efforts To Avert Bird Flu Pandemic, Researchers Say KFF News, April 10, 2025

Farm workers avoiding bird flu testing because of deportation threat, officials fear The Telegraph, April 2, 2025

Milk tested for bird flu reveals a scientific mystery Iowa Capital Dispatch, April 4, 2025

The hunt for the next pandemic is on our shores ABC News (Australia), March 29, 2025