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Avian Influenza - Safety Measures
WHO interim recommendations for the protection of persons
involved in the mass slaughtering of animals potentially
infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious disease of birds which
is currently epidemic amongst poultry in Asia. Exposure to
infected poultry and their feces or dust/soil contaminated
with feces) can result in human infection. These
recommendations have been developed because human infections
have been identified in association with the current poultry
epidemic. They will be updated as more information becomes
available.
• Cullers and transporters should be provided with appropriate
personal protective equipment:
protective clothing, preferably coveralls plus an impermeable
apron or surgical gowns with long cuffed sleeves plus an
impermeable apron; disposable examination gloves; masks: the
minimum requirement is well-fitted surgical masks, where N951
masks are available their use is recommended; 2 goggles; boots
or protective foot covers that can be disinfected.
• All persons who have been in close contact with the infected
animals should wash their hands frequently. Cullers and
transporters should disinfect their hands after the operation.
• Environmental clean up should be carried out in areas of
culling, using the same protective measures as above.
• All persons exposed to infected chickens or to farms under
suspicion should be under close monitoring by local health
authorities. It is recommended that persons at specific risk
of inhaling possible infected material (e.g. cullers and
farmers involved in mass culling at commercial farms) receive
prophylaxis with antivirals3. They should also be vaccinated
with the current WHO recommended influenza vaccine to avoid
simultaneous infection by human influenza and avian influenza
and to minimize the possibility of a re-assortment of the
virus's genes4.
Additonal health monitoring of chicken cullers, others
involved in the process and their family members should be
carried out. These individuals should report any relevant
health problems (respiratory complaints, flu-like illnesses or
eye infections) to a health care facility. Persons at high
risk for severe complications of influenza (e.g.
immunocompromised, over 60 years old, or with known chronic
heart or lung disease) should avoid working with affected
chickens.
• Serological surveillance of exposed animal workers and
veterinarians is encouraged.
• In liaison with designated laboratories, full blood and post
mortem specimens (intestinal contents, anal and oro-nasal
swabs, trachea, lung, intestine, spleen, kidney, brain, liver
and heart) of animals (including pigs) should be collected for
investigation of new viral isolates.
FAO
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