OSHA issues guidance for protecting employees against avian flu.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has unveiled new safety and health guidance that alerts employees and employers about the hazards of occupational exposure to avian influenza, or "avian flu," from infected birds, and provides practical recommendations on ways to avoid infection. OSHA Guidance Update on Protecting Employees from Avian Flu Viruses, as well as other important resource information on the topic, is available in English and Spanish.

"We encourage employers and employees who are most likely to be exposed to avian flu to take the appropriate precautions" said OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke. "This guidance offers them practical tips, such as hand washing and the use of proper protective equipment, for preventing illness."

Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are natural hosts of avian flu viruses and often show no symptoms; however, some of the viruses can cause high mortality in poultry, including the H5N1 virus. Some strains of avian flu viruses carried by these wild birds can infect domestic fowl and in turn can infect humans, causing fever, cough, sore throat, eye infections, and muscle pain. Avian flu can also lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, and other severe and life-threatening complications. The most common route of transmission to humans is by contact with contaminated poultry.

For links to these resources as well as information on how you can prepare your club, including planning checklists, please visit CMANs Private Club Issues page on the avian flu online at http://www.cmaa. org/legislat/AvianFlu.asp.