This Educational Offering is Sponsored by the Minnesota Emergency Readiness Education and Training (MERET) Grant.

1. This Educational Offering is Sponsored by the Minnesota Emergency Readiness Education and Training (MERET) Grant. Promoting Collaboration between Partners in Emergency Preparedness in Minnesota • Minnesota Hospital Association • Minnesota Department of Health

2. Kevin Elfering, Director Dairy& Food inspection

3. Pop Quiz • Is AI a new disease? • NO • Has there ever been a case of AI in the US? • YES • Has there been a case in Minnesota? • YES • How about this year? • YES Kevin Elfering, Director Dairy& Food inspection

4. Ecology of Influenza Genetic Reservoirs H3, H7 H1, H2, H3 Intermixing H5N1 Commercial, LBMs Others H10 H1-12 H14-15 H1-2, 4-7, H9-13, 15 Other Aquatic Birds? H1, H3, H4, H7, H13 Kevin Elfering, Director Dairy& Food inspection H1, H3

5. AI CLASSIFICATIONS of Influenza Virus • Low pathogenic AI (LPAI) – majority of strains • Highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) less often • Sudden onset, severe illness, rapid death, with mortality that can approach 100% • This type of virus has only been found in H5 and H7 subtypes • All outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have only been found in the H5 and H7 subtypes • This does not mean that all H5 and H7 subtypes are highly pathogenic. Kevin Elfering, Director Dairy& Food inspection

6. What if somebody does find an infected bird – in North America, the U.S., in the Upper Midwest, or here in Minnesota? Does that mean we’re having a pandemic? Disease of birds Rare human transmission If close contact with infected bird/droppings • No transmission from wild birds • Person to person contact rare Unlikely to see widespread human disease

7. Does that mean we don’t need to be concerned about a flu pandemic? • Public health preparedness • Worldwide pandemics • H5N1 bird flu strain changes • Different flu virus • Public health monitoring

8. How will we know when we have our first infected bird? What’s being done to monitor for H5N1 bird flu in wild birds? Surveillance and Testing U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

9. Have any cases of avian influenza been reported in Minnesota poultry this winter? Annual garden-variety forms every year Monitoring system in place Minnesota poultry industry has never had a case of the more serious HP form Modern production practices minimize spread

10. What is being done to monitor for H5N1 bird flu in domestic poultry flocks? Poultry producers Veterinarians Minnesota Dept of Animal Health

11. Should consumers be concerned about buying and eating chickens or turkeys? What can they do to protect themselves? Minnesota Dept of Agriculture Board of Animal Health Monitoring Programs Handling/Cooking Precautions Clean utensils Wash hands Cook poultry thoroughly

12. Do you want people to report sick or dead wild birds? Do you want people tosubmit dead birds for testing, the way you did with West Nile Virus? No plans for testing H5N1 vs West Nile Virus testing Dead birds H5N1 unlikely to make them sick and die Put in a plastic bag Put in garbage Wash hands thoroughly

13. Should people be concerned about contact with wild birds or their droppings? What should they do to protect themselves? No reported cases of H5N1 in humans from transmission by wild birds As a general precaution avoid contact with wild birds/droppings Wash hands, avoid bringing feces into home, shoes, clothing Disinfection

14. Is it safe to eat wild game birds? What precautions should hunters take? No reported cases where people have gotten H5N1 bird flu from wild animals Routine precautions include: • Do not eat or handle any sick game birds • Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves when handling or cleaning game birds • Wash hands and any equipment or surfaces that came in contact with game • Thoroughly cook all game to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher http://www.health.state.mn.us/

15. Should consumers be concerned about buying and eating chickens or turkeys? What can they do to protect themselves? Normal precautions for handling and cooking poultry. These precautions include • Cleaning all utensils and food preparation services thoroughly after working with raw poultry. • Washing your hands thoroughly after handling raw poultry. • Cooking poultry thoroughly – to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher – before eating it. Precautions protect from other common diseases

16. What about eating eggs? Is there any special way eggs should be prepared? No known cases of transmission from eating eggs Proper cooking kills bacteria/viruses Cook thoroughly No runny or liquid yolks

17. What about people who like eating their eggs “sunny-side up?” Thoroughly cook meat, poultry, eggs Eggs prepared “sunny-side up” are not heated to temperatures that kill bacteria/viruses Eggs intended for human consumption are typically washed and sanitized so any virus on the shell would be inactivated

18. Is it safe to keep “back yard chickens” or other poultry in or near your place of residence? Simple precautions: • Monitor birds daily for signs of disease • Swelling around head • Discharge from eyes, nose, mouth • Severe illness and death in chickens and turkeys • Keep wild birds away from domestic birds feed, bedding or water • If your birds become sick /die, consult veterinarian promptly • Wash hands thoroughly after working with birds • For questions about your birds contact • U.S. Dept of Agriculture website: www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity Or call 1–866–536–7593.

19. Do bird feeders pose any health risk for humans? No reported cases of people with H5N1 bird flu from wild birds H5N1 typically not seen in backyard bird feeder species- more likely in waterfowl and shorebirds Precautions: • Wear gloves while cleaning bird feeders/bird baths • Wash hands after removing gloves • Use plastic bag to pick up & dispose of dead birds

20. Should people be concerned about swimming in lakes where waterfowl are present? No evidence of anyone being infected this way General health precaution: • Avoid shallow area where waterfowl may be present • Avoid swallowing any water when swimming

21. What about pets? Are they at risk? And are they a potential threat? No known cases where people have gotten H5N1 from animals other than chickens Few cases of H5N1 reported in cats who were infected by eating raw infected poultry Pet cats should be kept indoors Pet birds with no contact with wild birds are not at risk

22. Have any of these birds with the less severe versions of avian flu gone into the food supply? Birds that do not pass inspection at the slaughter plant are withheld from the food supply. More dangerous forms typically kill birds quickly, making it unlikely of reaching the processing plant No danger of getting avian influenza from properly cooked poultry

23. Prepare Human Resources in Our Communities to Respond • Organize family plans for any emergency • Educate community as new threats loom • Work within your agencies, communities and regions to establish back up plans for sudden surges in anticipated events

24. MDH Public Information Line Questions from the general public—please call (651) 201-5414 During normal business hours 8:00AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday This is the same number that physicians can call for clinical questions 24 hours per day and 7 days per week

25. MDH Web For Updated information and Fact Sheets About Avian Influenza www.health.state.mn.us.divs/idepc/diseases/flu/avian/birddisease.pdf

26. Information About Safe Handling of Your Birds Contact: U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Biosecurity for the Birds Program. www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity Or call 1 (866) 536-7593

27. Questions About Dead Birds Call: (651) 201-5081

28. Thank You For Your Participation