luckytran, 1 month ago

CDC's recommendations for farmers re: bird flu outbreak in the US

1️⃣ Wear N95 respirators, eye protection, and gloves, and wash hands to reduce risk of infection when handling animals
2️⃣ Train workers to use PPE correctly

luckytran, 1 month ago

CDC's recommendations for clinicians re: bird flu outbreak in the US

1️⃣ Look out for symptoms
2️⃣ Follow infection control recommendations, including using PPE
3️⃣ Initiate antiviral treatment ASAP
4️⃣ Collect specimens and notify health depts
5️⃣ Encourage patients to isolate

If signs and symptoms compatible with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection are present: Isolate patient and follow infection control recommendations, including using PPE. Initiate empiric antiviral treatment as soon as possible. Do not delay treatment while awaiting laboratory results. Notify state and local health department to arrange testing for influenza A(H5N1) virus. Collect respiratory specimens from the patient to test for influenza A(H5N1) virus at the state health department. If the exposed person has conjunctivitis, with or without respiratory symptoms, both a conjunctival swab and a nasopharyngeal swab should be collected for testing. Encourage patients to isolate at home away from their household members and not go to work or school until it is determined they do not have avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. Starting empiric antiviral treatment with oral or enterically administered oseltamivir (twice daily for five days) is recommended regardless of time since onset of symptoms. Antiviral treatment should not be delayed while waiting for laboratory test results.

luckytran, 1 month ago

Source:

CDC - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Identification of Human Infection and Recommendations for Investigations and Response

https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2024/han00506.asp

Kathmandu, 1 month ago

@luckytran
I am noticing the difference between "Wear an N95 filtering facepiece respirator" to farmers, which is specific and concrete, vs. "wear respiratory protection" to the general public, which is vague.
"If I keep my elbow in front of my mouth, is that enough?" /s

The CDC has a real problem with focusing more on "there is a hierarchy of protection, and you do not rank high enough to even be told what the good protection IS" than on keeping people safe.