Never miss a story — sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan benefits news.
Benefits November 15, 2006
OSHA Puts Out New Avian Flu Guidance
November 15, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The primary
focus of new government guidance about avoiding avian flu
from infected birds is on good hygiene, including use of
gloves and hand washing.
Reported by Fred Schneyer
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also advised in the new release that those who work with infected animals or individuals have proper respiratory protection.
“We encourage employers and employees who are most
likely to be exposed to avian flu to take the appropriate
precautions,” said OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke, in a
press release. “This guidance offers them practical tips,
such as hand washing and the use of proper protective
equipment, for preventing illness.”
According to the OSHA document, w
ild birds – particularly waterfowl – are natural
hosts of avian flu viruses and often show no symptoms;
however, some of the viruses can cause high mortality in
poultry, including the H5N1 virus. Some strains of avian
flu viruses carried by these wild birds can infect
domestic fowl and in turn can infect humans, causing
fever, cough, sore throat, eye infections and muscle
pain, the government said.
Avian flu can also lead to pneumonia, acute
respiratory distress, and other severe and
life-threatening complications. The most common route
of transmission to humans is by contact with
contaminated poultry, the government said.
The new document updates guidance on avian flu
issued by OSHA in 2004 and provides separate
recommendations for poultry employees and those who
handle other animals and for laboratory employees,
health care personnel, food handlers, travelers, and US
employees stationed abroad.
The guidance also includes links to helpful Web
sites with additional information, and a list of
technical articles and resources, including a history
on flu pandemics, symptoms and outcomes of various
strains of the avian flu, a summary of the bird
importation regulations, and details on the
transmission of the virus.
For more information on federal activities on
avian flu and pandemic flu, please see
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
The publication, OSHA Guidance Update on Protecting Employees from Avian Flu Viruses, is also available in Spanish by visiting the In Focus section on the home page of OSHA’s Web site at www.osha.gov .