The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accidentally fired several agency employees who are working on the federal government’s response to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. The USDA is trying to quickly reverse these firings and rescind termination letters that were sent over the weekend. The agency stated that frontline positions in the Food Safety and Inspection Service are essential for public safety and will continue to be hired to ensure the safety and supply of food. Despite budget cuts across the federal government, several USDA positions have been exempted in order to prioritize the response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak.
The avian flu outbreak has severely impacted poultry flocks and caused egg prices to soar. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed 68 cases of the avian flu among humans in the U.S. This incident is ongoing and more updates are expected.
Political reporter Allan Smith from NBC News covered this story, with contributions from Laura Strickler and Melanie Zanona. The situation highlights the importance of maintaining a strong workforce in response to public health emergencies like the avian flu outbreak.
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