Keeping Farmworkers Safe From HPAI

Just because Bird Flu hasn’t been in the headlines recently, doesn’t mean the virus is no longer a concern for the Northwest farming community.  And one of the more recent concerns for the health community is farm workers that have come down with HPAI, both at dairy and chicken farms.  Washington state Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle said for the last three years, HPAI hasn't had a massive human health impact, which could breed complacency.

“In fact, CDC says the risk is low to the general public, moderate to farm workers, and mostly what we're seeing is conjunctivitis. So the most important thing we can do is provide PPE that doesn't just protect the farmworker, but it's comfortable so they actually wear it right. So, right now we really need folks to wear eye protection and masks.”

What Kind Of PPE Do Farmers Need?

Itle says right now, with the virus activity fairly low, this is the time that farm owners and managers need to take inventory of what they have and what they need to protect employees.  She said managers need to ask what PPE they need to have stockpiled so an appropriate response can be initiated.

“You don't have to have enough to last you a month, but you have to have enough to last you a few days until you can, you know what you need. So, I would encourage producers in that space to make sure you're prepared. What we what we do know is that the virus, you know, right now like I said, doesn't have a huge human health implication pretty low. But what we don't want is to have an opportunity for people to get infected or have an opportunity for the virus to reassort in a way that it does become a human health crisis, so that there is human to human transmission, they're not yet, and let's keep it that way.” 

Itle added the state cannot respond to a farm for proper containment and protocol until steps to ensure worker safety have been taken by the farm.

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