High path avian flu is still a concern despite the drop in cases.
One of the biggest issues now is the safety of farm workers who have tested positive on both dairy and poultry farms.
According to Washington state veterinarian, Dr. Amber Itle, “CDC says the risk is low for the general public, moderate to farmworkers, and mostly what we’re seeing is conjunctivitis. So, the most important things we can do is provide PPE that doesn’t just protect the farmworker, but is comfortable so they wear it right. So you know, right now, we need folks to wear eye protection and masks.”
With virus activity slowing, experts say that now is the time for farmers to take stock of what they need to protect their workers.
Keeping a supply of protective gear on hand is considered a best practice.
“You don’t have to have enough to last you a month, but you have to have enough to last you a few days until you can, you know, know what you need. I would encourage producers in that space to make sure you’re prepared. What we do know is that the virus, you know, right now, like I said, doesn’t have a huge human health implication— pretty low risk— but, what we don’t want is to have an opportunity for people to get infected or have an opportunity for the virus to reassert in a way that it does become a human health crisis, so that there is human-to-human transmission. They’re not yet, and let’s keep it that way.”
She added that states cannot respond for proper containment until farmers take steps to ensure worker safety.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAI) cases are rising. In the last week, seven commercial turkey, duck, and egg layer flocks were culled across five Midwest states and California.
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