Bird flu exposure: CDC report details worker safety measures

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising dairy and poultry facilities to take steps to protect their workers and the public from exposure to bird flu.

While noting in a July 25 report that the risk to the public is still low, CDC recommends employers notify anyone who has been exposed to infected animals, educate workers about bird flu and provide access to personal protective equipment such as respirators.

Additionally, the agency says to monitor for signs and symptoms, test exposed workers and make “antivirals available to symptomatic persons as soon as possible.” 

On March 25, an outbreak of bird flu was detected at a Texas dairy farm. As of Aug. 1, the virus had spread to 179 dairy farms in 13 states. Since the HPAI outbreak began in early 2022, over 800 commercial poultry farms have been impacted by the virus.

A worker in Texas and two in Michigan tested positive for bird flu, the report adds. For the two workers in Michigan, CDC said that “neither worker was severely ill, neither required hospitalization, and no household or work contacts reported being ill. Both workers wore some PPE, but neither wore a mask or respirator.”

The agency adds: “The human cases associated with dairy farms in Texas and Michigan demonstrate the potential value of PPE, including eye and respiratory protection, especially on affected farms.”