USDA puts $5M toward bird flu study

WASHINGTON, June 2 (UPI) -- The University of Maryland-College Park has received $5 million from the U.S. Agriculture Department to renew bird flu research efforts, the agency said.

USDA said the money will keep the Avian Influenza Coordinated Agricultural Project going for another three years, the agency said Monday in a news release.

The project was first awarded to the university in 2005 to establish a research and education project to help prevent and control avian influenza. The project involves researchers and extension specialists representing 17 states.

USDA said the project's researchers and educators have assembled a vast network to study the ecological and biological characteristics of avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds and developed a comprehensive program to train producers and veterinarians on the culling of flocks infected with avian influenza.