CDC updates its bird flu guidance to cover more workers

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated interim guidance on protecting workers from exposure to bird flu to include employees at zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, fur farms, aquariums and wildlife rehabilitation facilities.

In its previous guidance, CDC cautioned that workers on dairy farms face a transmission risk when exposed to cows infected with bird flu, as well materials (such as raw milk) that are contaminated or potentially contaminated.

The update defines three levels of worker exposure – low, medium and high.

Work settings/tasks considered to have a high-exposure risk:

• Contact with living or dead animals confirmed or potentially infected (examples: poultry culling operations, work in sick pens, or work with sick animals in zoos or other wild animal facilities)
• Contact with raw milk, other secretions, udders or viscera from a farm with confirmed or potentially infected animals (examples: work in a milking parlor, raw milk processing or some slaughterhouse work)

Work settings/tasks considered to have a medium-exposure risk:

• Contact with healthy, non-lactating animals on a dairy farm with confirmed or potentially infected animals
• Contact with farm animals without confirmed or potentially infected animals, but where there are confirmed or potentially infected animals in the region
• Contact with healthy birds and mammals at a zoo or other wildlife facility with confirmed or potentially infected animals

Work settings/tasks considered to have a low-exposure risk:

• Contact with animals but with no confirmed cases in the region
• No contact with animals or animal secretions, regardless of cases on the farm or regional cases
• Contact with animals at zoos or other wild animal facilities without confirmed or potentially infected animals, regardless of infected animals in the region

The guidance also features recommendations on control measures, engineering and administrative controls, and personal protective equipment, as well as links with more information.