Health and safety agencies are advising monkey pox and avian flu precautions as outbreaks continue to surface in the United States. Caused by the pathogenic avian influenza A (H5) and A (H7) viruses, 15 people have contracted the sometimes-fatal pathogen.

While the number of human infections is relatively low, more than 100 million chickens and 213 dairy herds have been impacted. Additionally, the avian flu has been confirmed in 48 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC released information in mid-September that there are two kinds of monkeypox circulating at “low levels” in the U.S. These are mpox, clade I and mpox clade II. Reports indicate there were more than 32,000 cases in the U.S. and 58 deaths prior to January 10, 2024.

Based on a graph published by the CDC, the number of daily cases in 2024 peaked at 18 in February and again in March. Heightened concern persists due to repeated outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African nations.

In 2022, upwards of 68,000 people were affected by monkey pox, with a fatality rate of approximately 5 percent. As of August 2024, outbreaks have resurfaced. With a 160-percent increase in confirmed cases spreading across 13 countries — many in children — the death rate is now estimated at 19 percent. This is why the CDC and other health and safety organizations are issuing alerts in North America.

What Industries or Job Tasks May be Exposed to These Outbreaks?

Monkey pox and avian flu can be relatively easily transferred between birds, animals, humans, and even from contaminated surfaces. For example, a person who touches a diseased chicken or cow could transfer either virus to an inanimate object. Should someone else touch the surface and rub their eyes, nose, or mouth, they could become sick.

What may be even more troubling is a report issued by the CDC after probing an avian flu outbreak in Michigan. According to the report, 35 dairy farm workers tested positive for bird flu in June. The farm hands were from multiple counties and performed a wide range of tasks. The one thing they all had in common was a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) or disposable clothing.

Although the majority were in direct contact with sick herds, less than half used goggles or masks. Listed below are other occupations that are considered at heightened risk of contracting avian flu and monkey pox.

  • Broiler Breeders and Hatcheries
  • Disease Control and Eradication Field Crews
  • Egg or Poultry Farmers and Workers
  • Employees at Poultry Processing Plants
  • Pet Shop Staff Members
  • Ranchers and Livestock Handlers
  • Researchers and Laboratory Assistants
  • Veterinarians and Zookeepers
  • Wild Bird Handlers
  • Wildlife Biologists
  • Workers at Livestock Processing Facilities.

 

Avian flu and monkey pox appear to be as easily passed along as Covid, especially given human-to-human and surface contact contamination. On the heels of the pandemic, the CDC and other organizations have called for avian flu precautions for healthcare providers as well as monkey pox guidance for medical professionals.

Ailing workers throughout the dairy and poultry industries, among others, are likely to walk into hospitals, emergency rooms, and urgent care facilities unaware they are carrying highly contagious pathogens.

What are OSHA/CDC Guidelines for Handling the Avian Flu Outbreak?

It’s essential for employers to account for the fact that the avian flu virus is not restricted to poultry, cattle and dairy cows. Wild birds, marine mammals, domesticated pets, and imported animals may carry the pathogen. That’s why the CDC, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and others strongly advocate for the following avian flu safety measures for healthcare professionals as well as other at-risk workers.

  • Personal Protective Equipment: Workers handling poultry, dairy herds, and other potentially infected animals are advised to wear PPE when within six feet. The CDC recommends snug-fitting eye goggles. The goggles should be unvented or have venting on either side. The use of disposable protective clothing includes gloves, boot coverings, splash-resistant disposable coveralls, disposable head coverings, and a respirator.
  • Donning and Doffing: Employers are tasked with providing a clean area to don and store street clothes during their shifts. Staff members must wash thoroughly and then put on PPE and disposable clothing. At shift’s end, workers require a designated area to doff the PPE and put used items in an approved receptacle. They also need to shower and doff their street clothes in a separate space.
  • Footwear:Even though shoe and boot coverings are needed, footwear must be cleaned and sanitized. Avian flu can remain active on surfaces and be transported to people’s homes.
  • Safety Habits:Farm hands, pet shop employees, zookeepers, and people in other vulnerable occupations are urged to follow a series of best practices designed to reduce the possibility of infection. These include not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at work. Do not eat, vape, use chewing gum, or dip tobacco. When wearing disposable protective clothing, avoid using a non-designated restroom.

Although street clothes are to be separated from PPE donning and doffing spaces, it’s advisable to wash them after work. Health and safety agencies recommend doing laundry at a high temperature.

Avian Flu Precautions for Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers are urged to remain aware of community members who show signs and symptoms of avian flu. This holds particularly true of people who work with poultry, dairy herds, or at facilities in the supply chain.

For instance, workers who handle butchering, de-feathering, and preparing uncooked poultry may raise a red flag. Avian flu precautions for healthcare providers involve wearing disposable clothing, utilizing appropriate PPE, and following best practices.

What are OSHA/CDC Guidelines for Handling the Monkeypox Outbreak?

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that from January through November 2023, more than 12,000 confirmed cases of monkey pox surfaced. As the contagion spreads to new regions, the WHO, CDC, and OSHA have issued alerts and urged employers to adhere to stringent safety measures, such as employing the following.

  • Disposable Gloves
  • Protective Shoe Coverings
  • Disposable Hoods or Head Coverings
  • Chemical-Resistant Coveralls
  • Disposable, Waterproof Aprons
  • Unvented or Indirectly Vented Eye Protection

 

Workers who may be exposed to monkey pox are also tasked with following OSHA guidelines regarding donning and doffing PPE. Street clothing should be stored in a designated, clean space, and end-of-shift showers are necessary.

If a breathing apparatus is necessary, the CDC recommends using only NIOSH-approved air-purifying respirators. The same safety habits for those at risk of contracting avian flu apply to people more likely to encounter monkey pox.

Monkey Pox Guidance for Medical Professionals

The rise in cases among children means pediatricians are more likely to see patients suffering from monkey pox. The incubation period typically lasts upwards of two weeks, meaning entire families could contract the pathogen before symptoms present.

The most obvious sign is a painfully itchy rash that can appear anywhere on the body. Lesions generally last for 2-4 weeks. Infected minors and adults generally experience flu-like symptoms such as fevers, chills, coughing, congestion, swollen lymph nodes, and body aches, among others.

 

Monkey pox guidance for medical professionals largely mirrors that issued to protect against contracting avian flu. Respirators, eye protection, disposable clothing, and adhering to established safety standards and habits are encouraged.

Preparing for Avian Flu and Monkey Pox Outbreaks

The sickness and loss of life during the pandemic serve as an indicator that proactive health and safety measures are critical to preventing monkey pox and avian flu outbreaks. 

Employers in sectors more likely to experience avian flu and monkey pox outbreaks have an opportunity to prevent unnecessary illnesses and fatalities. The spread of these pathogens can be better contained by stockpiling and requiring exposed workers to wear PPE and disposable protective clothing.