Bird flu – useful guidelines
In the case of an outbreak of Bird Flu in Australia, the Department of Health and Ageing has released information and appropriate infection control procedures.
General public
The Australian Government has provided information and standard infection control procedures for members of the general public. The following links below discuss what the Bird Flu virus is and how individuals can practice appropriate infection control.
- Bird Flu fact sheet for the public [link to government health web site]
- Frequently asked questions [link to government health web site]
Infection control procedures
- Cough and respiratory etiquette [PDF, 1 page, 160 kB]
- How to wash and dry hands [PDF, 1 page, 143 kB]
Members of the healthcare profession
In the case of an outbreak of respiratory illness like Avian Influenza in Australia, appropriate infection control procedures should be in place in all health care facilities.
The World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) have recommended strict adherence to Standard and Additional precautions designed for health care facilities caring for patients with known or suspected Avian Influenza. The links below address infection control procedures that should be followed as recommended by these organisations.
Centres for Disease Control (CDC)
The CDC interim recommendations for dealing with patients with suspected or known Avian Influenza recommend the following standard and additional precautions [link to US government web site].
Standard precautions
- Pay careful attention to hand hygiene before and after all patient contact or contact with items potentially contaminated with respiratory secretions.
Contact precautions
- Use gloves and gowns for all patient contact.
- Use dedicated equipment such as stethoscopes, disposable blood pressure cuffs, disposable thermometers, etc.
Airborne precautions
- Place patient in an airborne isolation room.
- Use a fit tested N95 respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Eye protection
- Wear safety glasses or visors.
The Australian Government has made similar recommendations for personal protective equipment and hand washing procedures. The Department of Health and Ageing have set up an Avian Influenza Pandemic Preparedness website.
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