CDC Issues Updated Guidance to Help Prevent Spread of Flu at Agricultural Fairs – CDC

Summary

What CDC knows

An outbreak of H5N1 bird flu among poultry and dairy cows continues to spread in the United States. Four human cases with exposures to sick cows have been reported.

What CDC is doing

CDC has issued updated guidance to help prevent the spread of flu, including from cattle to people, at livestock fairs or exhibitions across the country. CDC continues to respond to the public health challenge posed by the multistate outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in cows and other animals in the United States.

With agricultural and livestock fairs happening all around the country this summer and fall, the chances for people to be in close contact with pigs, poultry (e.g., chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese), and cattle increase. Livestock fairs and shows are an important learning opportunity for people of all ages interested in agriculture.

At the same time, animals exhibited at agricultural fairs and shows can carry and spread influenza A viruses that are different from the seasonal influenza A viruses that commonly spread among people.

As the multistate H5N1 bird flu outbreak in poultry, cows and other animals continues to spread, CDC is recommending that fair exhibitors take actions to help prevent the spread of influenza A viruses between animals and between animals and people.

Since the first report of H5N1 bird flu in U.S. dairy cows this March, four associated human cases have been detected. All four people had direct contact with sick cows before they got sick, had mild illness, and have recovered. These are the first reported instances of cow-to-human spread of H5N1 bird flu.

The number of dairy cow herds infected with H5N1 bird flu continues to grow. As of July 11, 146 dairy cow herds in 12 states have confirmed cases of A(H5N1) virus infections. CDC is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and state and local public health and animal health officials to respond to this public health challenge.

The risk of H5N1 bird flu to the general public is low at this time. People with close, prolonged, or unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection. Farm workers on affected farms, for instance, are at higher risk of infection than others in the population.

While rare, influenza A viruses can spread from animals (including pigs, poultry, and cattle) to people and also from people to animals. For example, swine influenza viruses spread commonly in pigs and avian influenza viruses spread commonly in wild birds and cause outbreaks in poultry and now cows. People can be infected by swine and avian influenza viruses and vice versa. People most often get infected with animal influenza A viruses after being in close contact with infected animals.

It is rare for people to get sick from these viruses, but when they do, the sickness has varied from mild to severe. In some cases, it has led to hospitalization or death.

Livestock exhibitors can take the following actions to help protect themselves, friends and family, other visitors, and livestock and prevent the spread of flu:

CDC has issued interim recommendations for preventing, monitoring and public health investigations of H5N1 bird flu in animals and people.

An appendix to CDCs interim H5N1 bird flu guidance categorizes the degree of risk by exposure.

In addition, USDA also has fair guidance that focuses on reducing the risk of influenza spread between animals.

Originally posted here:

CDC Issues Updated Guidance to Help Prevent Spread of Flu at Agricultural Fairs - CDC