ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø

Things that increase your risk of getting sick

Prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected animals

Avian influenza A virus infections in people happen most often after close, prolonged and unprotected (not using respiratory or eye protection) exposure to infected birds, infected dairy cows, or other infected animals or environments contaminated by infected animals.

How you get infected

People who get avian influenza A viruses in their eyes, nose, or mouth (from a splash to the eye, touching their eyes with contaminated gloves or fingers, for example) or inhale virus, can be infected.

Higher level of exposure

Also, exposure to high amounts of virus can increase people's risk of becoming sick. Activities like milking infected dairy cows, depopulating infected poultry flocks, or handling or defeathering infected poultry can expose people high levels of avian influenza A virus.

Things that increase your risk of getting very sick

Timeliness of medical care

Global data show that people who get early antiviral treatment with oseltamivir are less likely to get very sick and die than people who do not get treatment with flu antivirals or who get it later in their bird flu illness. Antiviral treatment works best when started soon after symptoms begin, ideally within 2 days of developing symptoms.

Increasing age

Based on data from other countries, the risk of getting very sick from bird flu increases with age, such as in older adults. Infants and young children have had the lowest risk of becoming very sick with bird flu. However, some children and young adults have died of bird flu in other countries.

Underlying medical conditions

People with certain underlying chronic medical conditions might be at higher risk of becoming severely ill with bird flu. People who are at increased risk of serious seasonal flu complications may be at higher risk for severe bird flu. However, some people who are otherwise healthy have become severely ill with bird flu in other countries.

People at increased risk for getting bird flu

In the United States, people with job-or recreational-related exposures to birds, dairy cows, or other avian influenza A virus-infected animals or to contaminated products (e.g., raw milk) from infected animals are at greater risk of infection.

These farm workers are currently most likely to be exposed:

• Poultry workers
• Dairy workers

Other types of workers that also might be exposed:

• Other livestock workers
• Animal health responders including:
  • Poultry culling
  • Handling sick or dead wild animals
• Dairy laboratory workers
• Food processing workers handling raw milk and other confirmed or potentially contaminated materials
• Public health responders
• Slaughterhouse workers performing certain tasks on lactating dairy cattle including:
  • Unloading or handling live lactating dairy cattle for slaughter, including working in holding pens and tasks involved with ante-mortem inspection
  • Post-mortem processes including the post-mortem inspection, handling, and transporting of viscera
  • Removing and transporting udders from dairy cattle for further processing or rendering
• Veterinarians and veterinary staff
• Zoo, other wild animal facility, or other animal farm workers, such as:
  • Sanctuary workers
  • Aquarium workers
  • Wildlife rehabilitators
  • Fur farm workers

Other people with recreational-related exposures:

• Backyard bird flock owners
• Hunters of wild birds and waterfowl

People with job-or recreational-related exposures to birds or infected animals should take appropriate precautions to protect against bird flu. More information on how to stay healthy around backyard poultry is available at Backyard Poultry | Healthy Pets, Healthy People | ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø.