OASH Knowledge Sharing: H5N! Human Transmission

Dear TNA D4 Friends and Colleagues,

As you may be aware, there was one confirmed case here in Texas of animal to human transmission of H5N1. Although there has been no known person to person transmission of this virus, the virus has been detected in over 85 million poultry and over 9,000 wild birds (refer to the CDC for the latest numbers, posted weekly https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-summary.htm) This is an emerging and rapidly evolving situation that the CDC is following closely. At this time, the CDC believes that the overall risk to the general public posed by this virus remains low, however as nurses, we should remain vigilant and make the following CDC recommendations to our patients, especially those who frequently interact with poultry or cattle.

 

To reduce the risk of infection:

People should avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals (including cows).
People should avoid unprotected exposures to animal poop, bedding (litter), raw milk, or materials that have been touched by, or close to, birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed H5N1 bird flu.
People should not prepare or consume uncooked or undercooked food or related uncooked food products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, or raw cheeses, from animals with suspected or confirmed H5N1 bird flu virus infection.
It is safe to drink commercial milk because products are pasteurized before entering the market. Pasteurization kills bacteria and viruses, like influenza viruses, in milk.
It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. Properly handling and cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including bird flu viruses.
Specific recommendations for farmers; poultry, backyard flock, and livestock owners; and worker protection are also available.
 

Please refer to the CDC for additional information and recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-summary.htm

The CDC also has free print resources and posters in Spanish and English that you can print and use in your workplace to raise awareness around influenza prevention https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/freeresources/index.html

Should you need additional resources, do not hesitate to reach out to myself or the OASH Regional Office conveniently located locally in Dallas!!

Monica Angelique Geiger, DNP, RN

LT, U.S. Public Health Service

Regional Women’s Health Analyst

Region 6 (AR, LA, OK, NM, TX, and 68 Federally Recognized Tribes)

 

Office of Regional Health Operations

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

US Department of Health and Human Services

Telephone: 214-767-3523

Email: monica.geiger@hhs.gov

Subscribe to OASH Region 6 Updates

Follow us on Twitter @HHSRegion6

Pre-decisional and Deliberative Content