Detection | Vaccines | Prevention | Preparation | Recommendations

Hygiene

Effective disease prevention is much more successful in controlling a pandemic than effective disease treatment. Personal hygiene is the key strategy to prevention and listed below are some simple ways to reduce the risk of virus infection:

1. Always wash your hands before meals. The use of alcohol-based hand wash is recommended and proven to be more effective against bacteria/viruses than ordinary hand washes. Clean thoroughly between fingers and around both wrists.
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to avoid releasing any viruses. Dispose of the tissue thereafter. Pocketed handkerchiefs are not recommended.
3. Advise others to cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
4. Clean and sterilize surfaces that are potentially contaminated.

Alcohol and chlorine are both effective disinfectors.

Processing Food

It remains safe to eat poultry and poultry products given that both are thoroughly cooked. Active viruses are deactivated at temperatures of 60ºC for 30mins, thus the importance that poultry foods are thoroughly cooked. Points to note during food preparation include:

1. Avoid the need to slaughter live poultry yourself.
2. Separate the surfaces used to prepare cooked and uncooked poultry.
3. Minimum cooking temperature should be 70°C.
4. Cleanse eggshells in warm soapy water prior to handling. Wash cooking utensils in hot water and detergent afterwards.
5. Do not undercook eggs or poultry meat. Avoid runny yolks and soft-boiled eggs. Meat juices should run clear.
6. Avoid: mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce and ice cream. These foods contain uncooked or partially cooked eggs

Frozen poultry in particular, must be well cooked, as bird flu viruses survive for uncertain amounts of time when frozen.

Protective Masks

Masks are a recommended measure during pandemic alert phases 4, 5 and 6. (See Preparation) The WHO specifies type P2 (N95) masks for optimised protection, though these need to be fitted according to the user as they are otherwise uncomfortable to wear. Medical personnel and persons at high risk are strongly advised to use these masks during phases 5 and 6.



Surgical masks are less effective, but nonetheless reduce the likelihood of virus transmission by minimizing infectious air-borne/droplet secretions. They are recommended for use in crowded public areas during a pandemic or where close contact with potentially infected persons is likely.

Areas to Avoid

Apart from traveling to infected regions, there are also a number of areas that should be avoided in the case of a pandemic. These include:

• Open air markets (particularly where live poultry are sold)
• Poultry farms
• Mass gatherings
• Public transport (if possible)
• Other areas where domestic birds dwell

At this point in time, limited contact with poultry is adequate prevention. Only in the event of an actual pandemic, would mass gatherings, public transport and zoos etc. be advised as places to avoid.

Recommendations to Poultry Farmers/ Bird Owners/ Poultry Market Owners

Persons who often work with or live in the vicinity of poultry farms and markets should take note of the following safety precautions in the lead up to a pandemic:

Separating birds

• Don't allow domestic birds (pets or poultry) to come into contact with wild bird species or their excretions. Take particular care around drinking ponds shared with wild waterfowl.
• Avoid allowing birds of indefinite disease status to enter flocks, particularly those from live bird markets.

Access Restrictions

• Minimize access to poultry farms - limit persons entering/exiting the area, including any unnecessary farmhands or visitors.
• Disallow the lending and borrowing of farming equipment between poultry farms.

Hygiene

• Disinfect all equipment thoroughly after use.
• Handlers of live poultry must wear proper protective gear including gloves, masks, boots and full-length gear (e.g overalls).
• After any visits to live poultry markets or areas inhabited by bird species (wild or domestic), ensure to change all gear before coming into contact with your own birds.

For Poultry Market Owners

• Plastic crates are recommended for ease of washing.
• Disinfect all crates, scales, equipment and other surfaces that have come into contact with poultry or poultry excretions.
• Keep recently imported birds apart from existing birds that have not been sold. Do not mix up flocks.