this educational offering is sponsored by the minnesota emergency readiness education and training...

This Educational Offering is Sponsored by the Minnesota Emergency Readiness Education and

Training (MERET) Grant.

Promoting Collaboration between Partners in Emergency Preparedness in Minnesota

• Minnesota Hospital Association

• Minnesota Department of Health

Kevin Elfering, Director Dairy& Food inspectionKevin Elfering, Director Dairy& Food inspection

Pop Quiz• Is AI a new disease?• NO• Has there ever been a case of AI in the US?• YES• Has there been a case in Minnesota?• YES• How about this year?• YES


Ecology of Influenza

Genetic Reservoirs

Intermixing

H1, H3

H1, H2, H3H3, H7

Commercial,LBMsOthers

H1-12H14-15

H1-2, 4-7,H9-13, 15

H10

H1, H3, H4, H7, H13

Other AquaticBirds?

H5N1


AI CLASSIFICATIONS of Influenza Virus

• Low pathogenic AI (LPAI) – majority of strains

• Highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) less often• Sudden onset, severe illness, rapid death, with mortality

that can approach 100%

• This type of virus has only been found in H5 and H7 subtypes

• All outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have only been found in the H5 and H7 subtypes

• This does not mean that all H5 and H7 subtypes are highly pathogenic.


What if somebody does find an infected bird – in North America, the U.S., in the Upper Midwest, or here in Minnesota?

Does that mean we’re having a pandemic?

Disease of birds

Rare human transmission

If close contact with infected bird/droppings– No transmission from wild birds– Person to person contact rare

Unlikely to see widespread human disease

Does that mean we don’t need to be

concerned about a flu pandemic?

• Public health preparedness

• Worldwide pandemics

• H5N1 bird flu strain changes

• Different flu virus

• Public health monitoring

How will we know when we have our first infected bird? What’s being done to

monitor for H5N1 bird flu in wild birds?

Surveillance and Testing

U.S. Geological Survey and

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Have any cases of avian influenza been reported in Minnesota poultry this

winter?

Annual garden-variety forms every year

Monitoring system in place

Minnesota poultry industry has never had a case of the more serious HP form

Modern production practices minimize spread

What is being done to monitor for H5N1 bird flu in domestic poultry flocks?

Poultry producers

Veterinarians

Minnesota Dept of Animal Health

Should consumers be concerned about buying and eating chickens or turkeys?

What can they do to protect themselves?

Minnesota Dept of Agriculture Board of Animal Health Monitoring Programs

Handling/Cooking Precautions

Clean utensils

Wash hands

Cook poultry thoroughly

Do you want people to report sick or dead wild birds? Do you want people to submit dead birds

for testing, the way you did with West Nile Virus?

No plans for testing

H5N1 vs West Nile Virus testing

Dead birdsH5N1 unlikely to make them sick and die

Put in a plastic bag

Put in garbage

Wash hands thoroughly

Should people be concerned about contact with wild birds or their droppings? What should they

do to protect themselves?

No reported cases of H5N1 in humans from transmission by wild birds

As a general precaution avoid contact with wild birds/droppings

Wash hands, avoid bringing feces into home, shoes, clothing

Disinfection

Is it safe to eat wild game birds? What

precautions should hunters take?

No reported cases where people have gotten H5N1 bird flu from wild animals

Routine precautions include:1. Do not eat or handle any sick game birds 2. Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves when handling

or cleaning game birds3. Wash hands and any equipment or surfaces that came in

contact with game4. Thoroughly cook all game to an internal temperature of

165 degrees or higher

http://www.health.state.mn.us/

Should consumers be concerned about buying and eating chickens or turkeys? What can they

do to protect themselves?

Normal precautions for handling and cooking poultry. These precautions include

a. Cleaning all utensils and food preparation services thoroughly after working with raw poultry.

b. Washing your hands thoroughly after handling raw poultry.

c. Cooking poultry thoroughly – to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher – before eating it.

Precautions protect from other common diseases

What about eating eggs? Is there any

special way eggs should be prepared?

No known cases of transmission from eating eggs

Proper cooking kills bacteria/viruses

Cook thoroughly

No runny or liquid yolks

What about people who like eating their eggs “sunny-side up?”

Thoroughly cook meat, poultry, eggs

Eggs prepared “sunny-side up” are not heated to temperatures that kill bacteria/viruses

Eggs intended for human consumption are typically washed and sanitized so any virus on the shell would be inactivated

Is it safe to keep “back yard chickens” or other poultry in or near your place of residence?

Simple precautions:1. Monitor birds daily for signs of disease

– Swelling around head– Discharge from eyes, nose, mouth– Severe illness and death in chickens and turkeys

2. Keep wild birds away from domestic birds feed, bedding or water

3. If your birds become sick /die, consult veterinarian promptly4. Wash hands thoroughly after working with birds5. For questions about your birds contact 6. U.S. Dept of Agriculture website:

www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity Or call 1–866–536–7593.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity

Do bird feeders pose any health risk for humans?

No reported cases of people with H5N1 bird flu from wild birds

H5N1 typically not seen in backyard bird feeder species- more likely in waterfowl and shorebirds

Precautions:– Wear gloves while cleaning bird feeders/bird baths– Wash hands after removing gloves– Use plastic bag to pick up & dispose of dead birds

Should people be concerned about swimming in lakes where waterfowl

are present?

No evidence of anyone being infected this way

General health precaution: • Avoid shallow area where waterfowl may be

present• Avoid swallowing any water when swimming

What about pets? Are they at risk?

And are they a potential threat?

No known cases where people have gotten H5N1 from animals other than chickens

Few cases of H5N1 reported in cats who were infected by eating raw infected poultry

Pet cats should be kept indoors

Pet birds with no contact with wild birds are not at risk

Have any of these birds with the less severe versions of avian flu gone into

the food supply? Birds that do not pass inspection at the

slaughter plant are withheld from the food supply.

More dangerous forms typically kill birds quickly, making it unlikely of reaching the processing plant

No danger of getting avian influenza from properly cooked poultry

Prepare Human Resources in Our Communities to Respond

• Organize family plans for any emergency

• Educate community as new threats loom

• Work within your agencies, communities and regions to establish back up plans for sudden surges in anticipated events

MDH Public Information Line

Questions from the general public—please call (651) 201-5414

During normal business hours 8:00AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday

This is the same number that physicians can call for clinical

questions 24 hours per day and 7 days per week

MDH Web

For Updated information and Fact Sheets About Avian Influenza

www.health.state.mn.us.divs/idepc/diseases/flu/avian/birddisease.pdf

Information About Safe Handling of Your Birds

Contact:

U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Biosecurity for the Birds Program.

www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurityOr call 1 (866) 536-7593



Questions About Dead Birds

Call: (651) 201-5081

Thank You For Your Participation

this educational offering is sponsored by the minnesota emergency readiness education and training...

Documents