State health officials in Michigan are advising residents to avoid visiting dairy and poultry farms following the detection of two human cases of avian influenza in the state.
On Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a memo recommending that schools, childcare providers, camps, and Out of School Time Program operators suspend field trips to these farms until further notice.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has also advised these farms to limit non-essential visitors.
For those who must visit, it is recommended to self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days post-visit. In case symptoms arise, it is important to contact the local health department. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, difficulty breathing, conjunctivitis, sneezing, fatigue, body aches, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, seizures, and rash.
In May, MDHHS reported two human cases of bird flu, increasing this year’s total to three cases (the first case was reported in Texas). Both Michigan cases involved farmworkers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the overall risk to humans remains low.
One of the Michigan cases experienced acute respiratory symptoms.
New Safety Protocols for Michigan Farms
MDARD has issued guidelines to help dairy and poultry farms mitigate the spread of avian influenza. Effective from May 8, these measures include:
- Appointing a biosecurity manager.
- Establishing a perimeter line to create a secure area with limited access points.
- Implementing cleaning and disinfection protocols at all access points for vehicles and individuals, including those delivering feed and supplies, and ensuring employee training.
- Keeping a logbook to record all vehicle and individual entries, which must be available for inspection upon request by MDARD.
