DECEMBER 5, 2024
Preparing for the worst: Health care can check readiness for bird flu spread
by
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Health care facilities are encouraged to prepare now for a possible bird flu outbreak, adopting measures to protect patients, staff, and the public, according to a commentary by infectious disease experts
published in
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
While the risk from bird flu to humans is currently low, hospitals can ensure they are ready by closely monitoring local and national cases of bird flu and screening patients with flu-like symptoms for contact with farm animals, especially in
rural areas where bird flu has been found,
Infectious disease doctors also recommend that hospitals establish strict isolation practices, prioritize
protective equipment for staff, plan for potential vaccination sites, and ensure clear communication with both health care teams and the community.
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"Health care facilities can adopt a systematic approach to prepare to identify, confirm, and safely manage bird flu in the health care setting," said Lauren Epstein, M.D., M.S., co-author of the article and an infectious disease specialist at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center and an assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine.
Effective communication is essential for fostering trust and reducing anxiety among health care personnel, patients, and the public, the authors said. Hospitals are encouraged to share their plans openly and explain how and why specific precautions are being implemented. Public transparency is especially crucial if response strategies change over time based on new information
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-worst-health-readiness-bird-flu.html
