Moderna to receive $176 million from U.S. government to develop mRNA bird flu vaccine

Moderna is set to receive $176 million from the U.S. government to develop a mRNA vaccine for bird flu in humans.

The COVID-19 vaccines used mRNA technology.

Federal officials, who made the announcement on Tuesday, said the award money will come through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

According to the Associated Press, the H5N1 virus was detected early this year in dairy cows and has now "spread to more than 135 herds in 12 states and infected three people to date, all with mild cases."

U.S. health officials have maintained that the risk to bird flu for the general population is low.