Avian (Bird) Flu Safety and Health Information

(Updated June 2, 2006) The Postal Service has issued an updated "Safety Talk" covering the mailing of birds and avian flu. In addition, the following information is provided to give you further information and to address concerns regarding protecting yourself.

OSHA has posted guidance on their web page providing information to protect workers who may have occupation exposure to the virus that causes Avian Flu. The following are pertinent sections of the OSHA information. The full text may be found at www.osha.gov.

Ban on Importation of Potentially Infected Animals

The U.S. government has issued an order for an immediate ban on the import of all birds (Class: Aves) from the following Asian countries: Cambodia; Indonesia; Japan; Laos; People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong, SAR; South Korea; Thailand; and Vietnam. The ban applies to all birds, whether dead or alive, and all bird products, such as eggs. This step was taken because birds from these affected countries potentially can infect humans with influenza A (H5N1). This order is enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the CDC and other federal agencies, such as the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of Interior. 

Exposure to infected poultry and their feces or dust contaminated with feces has been associated with human infection; however this is a rare occurrence. The following summarizes the recommendations that have been developed by the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) because human infections have occurred in Asia during the current poultry epidemic. They will be updated as more information becomes available.

All persons who have been in close contact with the infected animals, contact with contaminated surfaces, or after removing gloves, should wash their hands frequently. Hand hygiene should consist of washing with soap and water for 15-20 seconds or the use of other standard hand-disinfection procedures as specified by state government, industry, or USDA outbreak-response guidelines.

All workers involved in the culling, transport, or disposal of avian Influenza-infected poultry should be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment:

• Protective clothing capable of being disinfected or disposed, preferably coveralls plus an impermeable apron or surgical gowns with long cuffed sleeves plus an impermeable apron;
• Gloves capable of being disinfected or disposed; gloves should be carefully removed and discarded or disinfected and hands should be cleaned;
• Respirators: the minimum recommendation is a disposable particulate respirator (e.g. N95, N99 or N100) used as part of a comprehensive respiratory protection program. The elements of such a program are described in 29 CFR 1910.134. Workers should be fit tested for the model and size respirator they wear and be trained to fit-check for facepiece to face seal;
• Goggles;
• Boots or protective foot covers that can be disinfected or disposed.

Environmental clean up should be carried out in areas of culling, using the same protective measures as above.

Unvaccinated workers should receive the current season's influenza vaccine to reduce the possibility of dual infection with avian and human influenza viruses.

Workers should receive an influenza antiviral drug daily for the duration of time during which direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces occurs. The choice of antiviral drug should be based on sensitivity testing when possible. In the absence of sensitivity testing, a neuramindase inhibitor (oseltamavir) is the first choice since the likelihood is smaller that the virus will be resistant to this class of antiviral drugs than to amantadine or rimantadine.

Potentially exposed workers should monitor their health for the development of fever, respiratory symptoms, and/or conjunctivitis (i.e., eye infections) for 1 week after last exposure to avian influenza-infected or exposed birds or to potentially avian influenza-contaminated environmental surfaces. Individuals who become ill should seek medical care and, prior to arrival, notify their health care provider that they may have been exposed to avian influenza.

As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important and appropriate preventive practices is careful and frequent hand hygiene. Cleaning your hands often using either soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizers removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission.

Additional Links and Information

The official U.S. government web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza is www.pandemicflu.gov.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established avian flu public hotlines: Public 888-246-2675; Spanish 888-246-2857; and for Clinicians 877-246-4625. The CDC has additional online resources at www.cdc.gov.

The World Health Organization has information on avian flu online at www.who.int.

Physicians, employers and employees should contact their state or local health department to notify them of any symptomatic employees or suspected exposure incidents.

Locally Safety & Health Committees should be certain that safety talks and information dissemination are in accordance with OSHA standards including 29 CFR 1910.1200