USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is allocating $300 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to study SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and other emerging and zoonotic diseases.
“Up to 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases in humans can also impact the health of animals—we’ve seen this link firsthand with COVID-19,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
The funding will be used to build an early warning system to alert public health partners of potential threats. More information about the American Rescue Plan Surveillance Program can be found at aphis.usda.gov.
