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How to protect your employees, dairies & herds against avian flu

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently confirmed another case of the bird flu (H5N1) in the State, and identified more cases in individuals who had contact with infected dairy cattle and received testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dozens of herds in California have been reported infected, and health officials expect that number to rise.

The virus has been spreading in poultry and cows, and humans can be infected by it. In a recent KCRA News interview, Dr. Dean Blumberg, Associate Professor Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Health shared that,

It’s primarily spread from dairy or birds to humans either through the fecal material or the urine material that then gets aerosolized. It’s recommended that those who are in close contact with cattle, anybody in the dairy industry, that they should be wearing PPE, so they can protect themselves from being infected.

In the fight against the disease spreading, dairies should focus on prevention, with employees wearing PPE (approved respirator, face shield, coverall, head cover, boots, and gloves.)

In addition industrial hot water cleaning equipment is essential. You can effectively mitigate transmission with industrial hot water high-pressure cleaners, considered the first choice for cleaning in dairies including floors, walls, ceilings and stalls. Important steps you can take include:

• Since hot water dissolves dirt, including viruses and bacteria, a thorough cleaning cycle with hot water at 185 °F / 85 °C is sufficient. Hot water also dries quickly.
• Require vehicle wash & disinfection for all vehicles entering and leaving a farm (iodine is insufficient to prevent the spread of H5N1).
• Using a disinfectant cleaner such as Vital Oxide, which is CDC-approved and EPA-registered, can significantly improve outcomes. Vital Oxide is a Food Contact Sanitizer/ NSF Registered (D2) Sanitizer, safe for use around both humans and animals.
• Another option is to use a chlorinated biodegradable detergent such as CarboChlor, which is USDA & Kosher –approved.