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Entry 448Filed under Breeding

Why Califf Said an “Absolute Barrier” to Bird Flu Spread Is Impossible

Califf’s 2024 Senate hearing remark was about the limits of containment, not the value of precautions. Here’s how current CDC and USDA guidance frames risk and protection.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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FDA Commissioner Robert Califf was describing the limits of containment—not saying that precautions are pointless. At a May 8, 2024 Senate hearing, he told Senator John Hoeven that “there is no absolute barrier that can be created” to stop H5N1 from spreading, while emphasizing protections such as personal protective equipment for workers. CDC’s March 6, 2026 assessment says bird flu remains widespread among wild birds and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows, but the risk to the general public remains low.

What Califf meant by “no absolute barrier”

Califf made the remark while testifying about the FDA’s fiscal year 2025 budget, as officials were responding to H5N1 detections in dairy cattle. Hoeven asked whether a barrier could stop further migration. Califf replied, “Unfortunately, there is no absolute barrier that can be created.” The official Senate hearing transcript records the exchange.

His point was that containment cannot guarantee that transmission will never happen. It was not that prevention is futile: Califf identified worker PPE as an important protection. In the same 2024 hearing, he also said, “The public need not be worried. The risk is still low that [it] will happen.” That was his assessment at the time; current risk statements should be taken from later public-health updates.

What is the bird flu situation now?

In a situation summary dated March 6, 2026, the CDC says A(H5) bird flu is widespread in wild birds and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. The agency describes the current risk to the general public as low. The same page’s footnote reports 71 U.S. human cases since February 2024. That is a cumulative count reported on the dated page, not a current infection rate or an estimate of any individual’s risk.

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Low risk for the general public does not mean the same risk applies to everyone. CDC says close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments can increase the chance of exposure. Many reported U.S. human infections followed direct or close contact with infected poultry or dairy cows without recommended PPE, according to the CDC’s worker guidance.

How worker protection depends on the job

CDC groups work settings by exposure level and advises employers to create a health and safety plan, provide training, and select PPE according to the task and exposure. Work involving sick animals, raw milk, or close contact with contaminated environments calls for an assessment suited to that work; there is no single generic PPE kit that covers every situation.

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  • Follow the employer’s health and safety plan and current public-health and workplace guidance.
  • Use PPE appropriate to the specific task and exposure, rather than assuming one item is sufficient.
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How surveillance and biosecurity reduce opportunities for spread

Containment also relies on finding infections and responding to them. The USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy describes surveillance of the milk supply and dairy herds. Its aims include identifying affected herds and states, supporting enhanced biosecurity, and informing efforts to reduce farmworker exposure. Surveillance and biosecurity can help limit opportunities for spread; they are not a physical barrier or a guarantee of eradication.

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Is pasteurized milk safe during bird flu outbreaks?

Pasteurized commercial milk and raw milk are not interchangeable. A CDC MMWR report says pasteurization inactivates A(H5N1) and that the commercial milk supply is safe to consume. CDC advises against drinking raw milk or consuming raw-milk products.

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  • THE CAUSES OF SELF-CHOOSE: Self-harm is often related to a state of stress, frustration, nutritional deficiencies, or a combination of these various factors. If this behavior becomes a habit, consult a veterinarian.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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