Utah Valley Times

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) has called for immediate action to address the rapid spread of the bird flu virus (H5N1) in a letter sent to key government agencies. Romney expressed his concerns about the agencies' response to the outbreak and urged them to take swift measures to understand and contain the virus, drawing parallels to past public health crises.

In the letter addressed to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen, Senator Romney highlighted the urgency of the situation. He emphasized the need for quick action to reassure the American public about the safety of both consumers and the food supply.

"I am alarmed by reports about the rapid spread of the bird flu virus (H5N1), and concerned that your agencies are not moving quickly enough to understand and contain the outbreak. It is critical that you work swiftly to get ahead of this emerging situation and reassure the American public that they—and our food supply—remain safe," wrote Senator Romney.

Citing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent supply shortages, Romney expressed his worry that the government may once again be unprepared to handle a public health crisis effectively. He stressed the collaborative effort needed from the USDA, FDA, and CDC to protect American consumers and livestock from the threat of bird flu.

"The responsibility of protecting American consumers and livestock from threats like bird flu is a joint effort between the USDA, the FDA, and the CDC," Romney stated.

The Senator also raised concerns about unanswered questions regarding the transmission and spread of the virus, testing requirements for livestock, and the safety of the milk and beef supply in the United States. He urged the agencies to fill existing gaps in public health knowledge through scientific research and prompt dissemination of accurate information.

It is evident that Senator Romney's call for decisive action to combat the spread of the bird flu virus reflects the growing apprehension over the potential impact of the outbreak on public health and the food supply chain.