For the most up-to-date and comprehensive information about protecting yourself and others from avian influenza A viruses such as H5N1, please see the Center for Disease Control’s webpage:
Take steps to reduce your risk of infection with avian influenza A viruses associated with severe disease when working with animals or materials, including raw milk, confirmed infected or potentially infected with these novel influenza A viruses. Examples of people working with or exposed to animals include:
Poultry and livestock farmers and workers
Backyard bird flock owners
Veterinarians and veterinary staff
Animal health responders
Public health responders
Slaughterhouse workers performing certain tasks on lactating dairy cattle including:
Unloading or handling live lactating dairy cattle for slaughter, including workers in holding pens and involved with antemortem inspection
Postmortem processes including the post-mortem inspection and handling and transporting viscera
Removing and transporting udders from dairy cattle for further processing or rendering
Avoid unprotected direct or close physical contact with:
Sick birds, livestock, or other animals
Carcasses of birds, livestock, or other animals that have died from unknown causes
Raw milk
Viscera and udders from lactating dairy cattle
Feces or litter
Surfaces and water (e.g., ponds, waterers, buckets, pans, troughs) on farms with potentially infected animals that might be contaminated with animal waste
