06/03/2008 NIOSH Alert
NIOSH has released an updated /Protecting Poultry Workers from Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). Included is an appendix listing the advantages and disadvantages of respirator types
Protecting Poultry Workers from Avian Influenza
04/27/2009 Swine Flu
CDC and WHO are investigating reports of a flu-like respiratory illness in the US, Canada and Mexico. In Mexico, the illness has primarily struck otherwise healthy young adults, which is a departure from seasonal influenza, which typically affects the very young and very old. CDC's laboratory analyzed 14 samples samples from a respiratory illness outbreak in Mexico match swine influenza isolates from patients in the United States who had milder illnesses. Analysis of samples from severely ill Mexican patients and found that 7 of them had the same swine flu mix as the virus that infected the US patients. Canada's national laboratory has confirmed swine flu A/H1N1 in 18 isolates from Mexican patients, 12 of which were genetically identical to the swine flu viruses from California. CDC said the current strain of swine flu includes genetic material from 4 sources: North American swine influenza viruses, North American avian influenza viruses, human influenza virus, and swine influenza viruses found in Asia and Europe -- a new combination that has not been recognized anywhere in the world before. There appears to be human-to-human spread in both the US and Mexico over a wide geographic area at this point, but investigators are still checking for direct contact with swine.
Federal officials have not changed their travel recommendations to California, Texas, or Mexico, though they have issued an advisory about the increased health risk in certain parts of Mexico, urging travelers to take standard precautions such hand washing, staying home when sick, and using good coughing and sneezing hygiene.
Recommendations to help travelers reduce the risk of infection and stay healthy can be found at: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluUS.aspx
Clinical guidance on laboratory safety, case definitions, infection control and information for the public are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm.
Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Biosafety Guidelines for Laboratory Workers: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_labworkers.htm
For more information on swine flu, visit the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
Have questions or concerns? Contact Gannett