Human Health Issues related to Avian Influenza in Canada

[Previous] [Table of Contents] [Next]

Appendix H: Sample Letter for Contacts of Avian Influenza Virus

Dear Sir / Madam,

You have received this letter because you may be exposed to avian influenza virus in chickens (Chicken Flu). If you have any questions after reading this letter, please contact your local health unit or workplace health services.

What is avian influenza?

Influenza viruses that infect birds are called avian influenza viruses. These are related to but different from human influenza viruses. Most avian influenza viruses do not cause illness in humans and most are not passed from person-to-person. Only a few avian influenza viruses have been known to cause illness in people.

What is the risk to me?

It is possible that people could become infected with an avian influenza virus if they have contact with a living or dead infected bird or its feces, respiratory secretions, products or contaminated surfaces or by breathing in virus released into the air of a confined space. Such infections have been reported with H7 and H5 subtypes of avian influenza viruses. Human illness due to H7 has mostly been mild, with only one death reported in the Netherlands in 2003, but human illness due to H5 has been severe with several deaths being reported in people in Asia.

What are the risks to others?

Influenza viruses are very changeable. If a person is infected with an avian influenza virus and with a human influenza virus at the same time, the two viruses can exchange information so that the avian influenza virus can then spread easily between people. Mutations in the virus can also cause severe illness in others, even if it only causes mild symptoms in people who are first infected. When these changes occur, there is the risk that large scale outbreaks (or "pandemics") could get started. It is important for everyone that strict public health and workplace safety recommendations are followed to help prevent such pandemics when working with poultry outbreaks of avian influenza.

How do I protect myself and others when exposed to an avian influenza outbreak?

The following safety guidelines should be strictly followed when working at an avian influenza outbreak:

1. You should receive the current season's influenza vaccine as soon as possible and ideally two weeks before planned work or other exposure. Although the vaccine will not protect you from avian influenza, it will prevent dual infections with avian and human influenza viruses at the same time. The vaccine can be obtained free from your physician, local health unit or workplace health service when you present this letter.
2. You should receive Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), an anti-influenza drug, daily during your exposure and for seven days after your last exposure to living or dead infected poultry, products, secretions or contaminated surfaces. This is to protect you from avian influenza. To obtain a prescription, contact your personal physician. Always take this letter with you. The drug is available free to you from your local health unit when you present the prescription AND this letter or you can buy it at a pharmacy with your prescription.
3. Follow strict personal protective measures while exposed including: the wearing of disposable gloves, protective clothing and shoes, safety goggles and disposable fit-tested masks (particulate respirators, N95 type). After contact with living or dead infected poultry, products or contaminated surfaces and after removal of gloves, wash your hands thoroughly for 30 seconds. Full safety precautions should be reviewed with your supervisor and/or workplace health and safety representative before entering the site.
4. Watch for signs of illness such as fever, respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, runny nose etc), eye infections (redness or discharge) or other flu-like symptoms for one week after your last exposure to live or dead avian influenza-infected birds, products, secretions or contaminated surfaces.
5. If symptoms develop, seek immediate medical care. Notify the health care provider of your exposure to avian influenza and take this letter with you so he/she can take proper precautions and prescribe appropriate testing and treatment. Treatment is most effective if given within 48 hours of onset of symptoms so see your physician right away.
6. If symptoms develop, also notify the local health unit, and your workplace health and safety representative immediately. Except for visiting your physician, stay home and minimize contact with others until you are advised by the local health unit that you can resume normal activities (usually 24 hours after symptoms have cleared).

[Previous] [Table of Contents] [Next]