Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Advisory

Date Sent: 05/22/2015 02:44 PM EDT
Sender: Michigan Health Alert Network
Subject: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Advisory

Message: MIHAN re Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Advisory

Background

Since December 2014, the USDA has made numerous detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses in the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways (or migratory bird paths). The disease has been found in wild birds, captive wild birds, backyard poultry or commercial poultry in 20 states, including mid-western states Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and also Ontario, Canada. Details are available on USDA's APHIS website at http://1.usa.gov/1HYgrVp. The HPAI strains detected recently in the Midwest are H5N2 and H5N8, affecting primarily turkey and egg-laying chicken flocks. Michigan has yet to detect any of these viruses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 viruses to be low. To date, no human cases of these HPAI H5 viruses have been detected in the United States, Canada, or internationally.

MDHHS Coordination with Other State Agencies

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have been working to prepare materials in anticipation of the appearance of HPAI H5 in Michigan. MDHHS has posted available resources for local public health in the event of confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds in Michigan to the MDHHS CDInfo website (www.michigan.gov/cdinfo) and the Emerging Diseases website (www.michigan.gov/avianinfluenza). Please continue to check the websites for updates.

Exposed poultry workers

In the event that a commercial or backyard flock in Michigan does test positive, MDHHS's role would be to coordinate with animal health agencies and local public health. MDHHS will be available to assist LHDs with health monitoring and post-exposure chemoprophylaxis activities for individuals in their jurisdictions who have been in direct contact with infected birds (e.g., poultry workers). A health monitoring protocol is being finalized and will be available shortly at the links above.

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has guidance for protecting people who work with poultry: https://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib121304.html. They have a Quick Card on avian flu that details personal protective equipment and other protective actions that should be taken.

The OSHA Bird Flu Quick Card is available in English (https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_AvianFlu/poultry_employees.pdf) and in Spanish (https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_AvianFlu/poultry_employees_sp.pdf).

Specimen collection and submission

MDHHS has developed Guidelines for HPAI H5 Case Criteria and Testing and a patient summary form to be completed for suspect cases [see above links]. Providers may contact the MDHHS Communicable Disease Division (517-335-8165) if they have a patient who meets the case criteria for testing for HPAI H5. Respiratory specimens approved for testing will be sent to the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories.

Dead birds

Any reports of sick or dying birds should be forwarded immediately to the proper agency:

• For domestic poultry, contact MDARD (M-F 8am-5pm at (800) 292-3939 FREE or after hours/weekends at (517) 373-0440)
• For wildlife, contact your local DNR office (phone numbers for regional offices are available on the DNR's website at: http://tinyurl.com/mca6egu

Attachments:

• Case Criteria Testing Flowchart - May 2015.pdf
• Suspect AI H5 Flu Data Collection Form - May 2015.pdf