{"id":2469,"date":"2025-03-21T17:33:36","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T17:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/lord-fairfax\/?page_id=2469"},"modified":"2025-03-21T18:03:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T18:03:43","slug":"bird-flu-information-for-specific-groups","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/lord-fairfax\/bird-flu-2\/bird-flu-information-for-specific-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Information for Specific Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Human infections with influenza A viruses from animals are uncommon.<\/strong> People with exposure to infected birds, livestock, or other animals have a greater risk of influenza A virus infection, including H5 bird flu. These include poultry and dairy farm workers, hunters, backyard or hobbyist flock owners, wildlife rehabilitators, and fair exhibitors. <\/strong>People with job-related or recreational exposures to birds or infected mammals should take\u00a0appropriate precautions<\/a>\u00a0to protect against bird flu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

District Outreach<\/h3>\n
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LFHD is reaching out to organizations and groups of people who may have job-related or recreational exposures to birds or other avian influenza A(H5) virus-infected animals to share updated information and prevention recommendations. If you have a business or belong to a group who has exposure to birds or mammals, please contact Clarissa Bonnefond, District Epidemiologist, to learn more about the education and resources LFHD can provide to you and your staff or organization!<\/p>\n

Clarissa Bonnefond, MPH<\/strong>
\nPhone: 540-771-3725<\/strong>
\nEmail: clarissa.bonnefond@vdh.virginia.gov<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Public Health Response<\/h3>\n
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When H5 bird flu is detected in birds or other animals that may have been in contact with people in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) conducts a public health response to complement the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' (VDACS) animal health response. Detections of H5 bird flu in birds are expected as the bird flu virus is currently widely circulating in the environment.<\/p>\n

At this time, there are no reports of H5 bird flu infections in people or cattle in Virginia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples of some recent animal health responses that VDH supported include:<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n