CHARLOTTE, N.C.– Moderna is currently working on a vaccine to protect against the Bird Flu and the company is getting more financial help for its development.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding Moderna $590 million. The pharmaceutical company began a study in 2023 on a vaccine to protect against the H-5 and H-7 Avian Influenza viruses. Last July, it got a boost of nearly $180 million federal dollars fir those efforts. Moderna saw positive results in its earlier phases of vaccine development, setting the stage to advance into a phase-three trial. The broad term of Avian Influenza refers to a number of virus types that infect birds. That includes H5-N1 which has sickened dozens of people in the U.S. The first human case from a severe case was reported in Louisiana this month. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still says risk from Bird  Flu to the general public is low.