Additional Resources
• Mayo Clinic's Guidlines on Avian Bird Flu Precautions
• CDC Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette guidelines
• CDC Infection Control Guidelines
Avian Bird Flu Risk Mitigation
What steps can you take to prevent infection of yourself and others with the avian bird flu? Many are common sense, but here we have given you most of the top steps you should take to decrease the chances you become infected with the bird flu.
1. If a vaccine becomes available, it should be one of the first steps for many people. See this information about the current state of bird flu vaccines.
2. Hygiene. See the resources below for more detailed information, but it includes:
- frequent hand washing with soap and water and/or alcohol based cleaners;
- staying home if ill;
- covering ones mouth when coughing ("cough protocols");
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- avoiding close contact with infected people are all important first steps.
3. Travelers to countries where avian flu is common in the bird population should avoid contact with poultry and surfaces that may have been contaminated by infected birds (e.g. secretions, fluids, blood, feces), and ensure that all poultry is fully cooked.
3. Some experts have recommended: avoiding shaking hands to limit spread of the avian flu virus, the use of N-95 face masks for both , and even the use of drugs after exposure (only under a medical professionals guidance of course).