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House Committee concerned about avian flu impacting human health

A letter written by members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee expresses concern about the avian flu outbreak impacting human health.

The Committee oversees public health issues and is asking for assurances from the Obama administration that the virus won’t reduce the supply of human vaccines that have to be produced through chicken eggs.

In the letter, the lawmakers also state that the current sub-types of avian influenza don’t appear to infect humans, but there is concern they could affect swine, which have spread the virus to humans in the past.

The letter was signed by the chairman of the Committee, Fred Upton of Michigan, and its Ranking Member, Frank Pallone of New Jersey.