Avian Influenza and Humans

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is on the spread again, and Christi Miller, Communications Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, says that producers need to be prepared for more possible outbreaks. It’s one thing in the poultry industry. We’ve talked about that a lot here on air. We’ll continue to cover this story, but what does it mean for the human factor? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, while the risk of humans contracting HPAI is low, it is still a possibility. Miller says that there are some easy ways to avoid getting sick

“The key here is that people who are with their poultry, whether they’re commercial or backyard, it’s important to keep themselves safe too. This is the case always, whether there’s high path running through the country or not. Just to be sanitary, be safe. When you come in from working with your animals, wash your hands well, take care of your equipment, keep your equipment washed up and just things of that nature. Just regular things that are just smart practice for all kinds of diseases that can pass from animals to human.”

As a reminder, it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry and poultry products in the United States. The proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including bird flu viruses.