-
Wash your hands when handling food
-
Clean all surfaces in contact with raw meat
-
Keep foods cold before and after cooking
-
Do not cross-contaminate cooked and uncooked items, including utensils, hands and preparation surfaces
-
Poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees F, which is more than adequate to kill the AI virus.
Hunters should follow routine precautions when handling game:
-
Do not handle or eat sick game
-
Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game, wash hands as described above, and thoroughly clean knives, equipment and surfaces that come in contact with game.
-
Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling animals.
-
All game should be thoroughly cooked (well done or 170 degrees F).
Pet Owners
(information
below reprinted from CDC website: see
www.cdc.gov/flu/avian)
What animals can be infected with avian
influenza A (H5N1) viruses?
In
addition to humans and birds, we know that pigs, tigers,
leopards, ferrets, and domestic cats can be infected
with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses. In addition, in
early March 2006, Germany reported H5N1 infection in a
stone marten (a weasel-like mammal). The avian influenza
A (H5N1) virus that emerged in Asia in 2003 is evolving
and it’s possible that other mammals may be susceptible
to infection as well. CDC is working closely with
domestic and international partners to continually
monitor this situation and will provide additional
information to the public as it becomes available.
Can domestic cats be infected with avian
influenza viruses?
While domestic cats are not usually susceptible to
influenza type A infection, it is known that they can
become infected and die (both experimentally and
naturally) with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses and, in
a laboratory/research setting can spread the virus to
other cats. It is not known whether domestic cats can
spread the virus to other domestic cats under natural
conditions.
How do cats become infected with avian
influenza A (H5N1) viruses?
All of the cases of influenza A (H5N1) infection in
domestic cats reported to date have been associated with
H5N1 outbreaks among domestic poultry or wild birds and
are thought to have occurred by the cat eating raw
infected birds.
Can cats spread H5N1 to people or other
pets?
There is no evidence to date that cats can spread H5N1
to humans. No cases of avian influenza in humans have
been linked to exposure to sick cats, and no outbreaks
among populations of cats have been reported. All of the
influenza A (H5N1) infections in cats reported to date
appear to have been associated with outbreaks in
domestic or wild birds and acquired through ingestion of
raw meat from an infected bird.
I have a small flock of chickens
and I live in the county. Is it safe to keep them?
Yes. There is no reason to at this time remove your
flock of chickens. But backyard poultry owners and
small poultry producers should practice good biosecurity
by restricting access to their property, disinfecting
shoes, clothes, and hands and reporting sick or
suspicious birds to a veterinarian or extension agent.
More information on how to protect your backyard flock
can be found at the USDA's "Biosecurity for the Birds"
program.
What is the current risk that a cat in
the United States will become infected with influenza A
(H5N1)?
As long as there is no influenza A (H5N1) in the United
States, there is no risk of a U.S. cat becoming infected
with this disease. The virus circulating in Asia, Europe
and Africa has not yet entered the United States. CDC is
working closely with domestic and international partners
to continually monitor this situation and will provide
additional information to the public as it becomes
available.
What is the current risk that a dog in
the United States will become infected with avian
influenza A (H5N1)?
As long as there is no influenza A (H5N1) in the United
States, there is no risk of a U.S. dog becoming infected
with this disease. The virus circulating in Asia, Europe
and Africa has not yet entered the United States. CDC is
working closely with domestic and international partners
to continually monitor this situation and will provide
additional information to the public as it becomes
available. There is not enough information available
about avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in dogs to know
how infection would occur.
If Bird Flu Arrives: Safety Tips for Your Family and Pets
Information below condensed and reprinted from the Humane Society of the United States.
See www.HSUS.org for further information.
Do not abandon your pets or relinquish
them to animal shelters if avian flu is detected in
wild birds or birds in agriculture in your community;
people and pets can be safe from the virus by taking
simple, common-sense measures to protect your health.
Cats:
-
Cats can become infected with H5N1
-
Keep pet cats indoors. This will keep cats from stalking wild birds and from bringing home dead bird “treats.”
-
The virus can pass from cat to cat; be cautious about handling stray cats in H5N1-affected areas, and do not let your own cats come in contact with strays. Contact your local animal shelter, animal control agency, or feral cat organization for assistance with stray cats.
-
Do not touch sick or dead stray cats. Report sick or dead cats to Animal Care and Control.
-
Consult a veterinarian if your cat shows signs of breathing trouble or nasal discharge.
-
Include your cat in planning for a pandemic. Have extra supplies of your cat’s food and any medications.
Dogs:
-
It is not clear whether dogs are susceptible to the virus, but it is advisable to take precautions.
-
When taking dogs outside, keep them restrained on a leash.
-
Make sure contact between dogs and wild birds or poultry (or their feces) is avoided; don’t let dogs pick up dead birds or other animals.
-
Include your dog in planning for a pandemic. Have extra supplies of your dog’s food and any medications.
Pet Birds:
-
Pet birds can become infected with H5N1 if they are exposed to infected birds or their secretions.
-
Keep pet birds indoors and do not allow them to have any contact with wild birds.
-
Do not introduce new birds into your home. If you do so, make sure they are first quarantined and tested for bird flu. Make sure everyone who touches your birds or maintains their cages has clean hands, clothes, and shoes (so they don’t accidentally track germs from wild birds into your home).
-
Don’t share contaminated supplies or housing with other bird owners.
-
Include your bird in planning for a pandemic. Have extra supplies of your bird’s food and any medications.
Wild Birds
(Information
supplied by http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdflu/what-you-should-know/q-a/q-a-3/)
-
Avoid physical contact with wild birds and their byproducts (i.e. feathers, feces).
-
If you must move a dead bird, use double plastic bags or disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water afterward.
-
If you maintain a backyard bird feeder or bath, practice good hygiene measures such as wearing gloves when you clean the bath or refill the feeder and make sure to wash your hands afterward.
-
If you currently feed birds, please do not discontinue feeding, especially during late migration and winter months. Birds will have become dependant on your feeders, and may not survive without your continued support. If you decide to discontinue feeding, please do so in the summer, when other food sources are plentiful and birds are not migrating.
Information Summary provided by Indiana State Board of
Animal Health in conjunction with City of Fort Wayne,
Department of Animal Care and Control
