BY HOPE KIRWAN
Every summer, county fairs offer visitors the chance to interact with farm animals and celebrate Wisconsin’s tradition of agriculture.
But state officials are encouraging families to be more proactive about handwashing and other health precautions this year as avian flu affects surrounding states.
Wisconsin hasn’t had a case of the highly-contagious H5N1 virus in dairy cattle and hasn’t seen a new case in poultry since January. But the virus has infected cows in over 100 herds across 12 states since it was first discovered on a dairy farm in March.
Angie Maxted, state public health veterinarian for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, said while fairs are a great educational opportunity for kids, families should be mindful when visiting petting zoos or interacting with livestock.
“Basic common sense measures to keep yourself safe around animals also extend to avian influenza, such as making sure that hands are washed appropriately, that small children are not able to lick surfaces that animals may have touched or making sure to keep strollers and pacifiers out of animal areas,” Maxted said.
Dairy cattle and poultry are the primary concern for H5N1, but Maxted said swine do carry different types of influenza viruses.
DHS also recommends that people wash clothes and shoes after interacting with livestock and avoid any animals that appear sick.
Avian flu considered low risk to humans, but animal interactions increase hazard
Federal officials continue to report the virus is a low risk to public health. But there have been three cases of avian flu in dairy farm workers who were working with infected cows this spring.
The first two cases, located in Texas and Michigan, were found in workers who developed an eye infection. The most recent case in Michigan was in a person experiencing upper respiratory symptoms like a cough that are more typically related to influenza viruses.
“There is that possibility of more cases being identified; that would not come as a surprise to us,” said Tom Haupt, respiratory disease epidemiologist for DHS. “We are preparing ourselves as if we’re going to have cases, and we’re going to be working with the local public health departments and providers to be sure that we’re testing people who need to be tested.”
Haupt said there has so far been no human testing for H5N1 in Wisconsin. He said the virus is transmitted through exposure to animals, so state and local health officials are watching for people who have had an interaction prior to developing symptoms.
“What we are really asking providers to do is ask for animal exposure,” he said. “Do they live on a farm? Have they been to a fair where they have gone through the barns? We want the providers to ask questions about that and also about recent travel.”
Exhibitors already required to test for influenza as fair season kicks off
Last week, the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced that people showing lactating dairy cows would be required to test their animals for influenza A ahead fairs and exhibitions in the state. A federal order requiring a negative influenza test prior to interstate travel is also still in effect.
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