CDC endorses PPE for farmworkers at risk for HPAI

In the wake of a growing number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among dairy cows in multiple states across the country, officials with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are endorsing protecting farmworkers from being infected.

On May 6, Nirav D. Shah, CDC principal deputy director, discussed the topic of utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of the disease from livestock to farmworkers and requested that jurisdictions provide workers on dairy farms and poultry farms as well as those working in slaughtering plants, with personal protective equipment (PPE).

According to the agency, “CDC asked state health departments to work with their state agriculture department counterparts and partners in communities, such as farmworker organizations, that can help coordinate and facilitate PPE distributions.” The agency added that it is committed to backing up state health officials and offered to deploy support for states within 24 hours of it being requested.

CONTINUE READING