Resources for H5N1 Bird Flu

GENERAL INFORMATION

Information on Bird Flu (CDC)

Current Situation Summary (CDC)

Interim Recommendations for Prevention and Monitoring (CDC)

Influenza (Avian and other zoonotic) Fact Sheet (WHO)

Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (FDA)

Infections in Livestock (USDA)

How CDC is Monitoring Influenza Data (CDC)

CLINICIAN RESOURCES

Case Definitions (CDC)

Evaluating and Managing Patients (CDC)

Use of Antivirals for Treatment (CDC)

Use of Antivirals Chemoprophylaxis (CDC)

Follow-up of Close Contacts of Persons Infected with HPAI (CDC)

LABORATORY RESOURCES

Laboratory Biosafety:

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories—6th Edition (cdc.gov) 

  • See Pages 262, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A Viruses 

  • Note that HPAI A viruses are CDC/USDA select agents! 

    • See BMBL 6 Appendix F for more information: Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories—6th Edition (cdc.gov) 

Infection Control and Safety When Collecting Specimens and Caring for Patients:  

• Interim Guidance for Infection Control Within Healthcare Settings When Caring for Confirmed Cases, Probable Cases, and Cases Under Investigation for Infection with Novel Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Disease | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov) 

CDC Laboratorian Guidance for Specimen Collection and Testing: 

• Interim Guidance on Testing and Specimen Collection for Patients with Suspected Infection with Novel Influenza A Viruses with the Potential to Cause Severe Disease in Humans | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)  

• Influenza Specimen Collection (cdc.gov) 

  • Note that CDC recommends collecting a conjunctival swab from patients with conjunctivitis (see here). 

  • Collect both a conjunctival swab and a respiratory specimen (e.g., nasopharyngeal swab) even if the patient doesn’t have respiratory symptoms.   

Farm worker safety:

• Recommendations for Workers (usda.gov) 

American Society for Microbiology Sentinel Level Clinical Laboratory Guidelines 

• Novel-Influenza.pdf (asm.org) 

Information relevant to incidental detection of HPAI on routine influenza IVDs and LDTs 

• Labs are not encouraged to develop or validate specific LDTs for HPAIs at this time. 

• Labs can contact relevant IVD manufacturers for pan-Influenza A primer/probe coverage information on FDA cleared assays.  

• Labs that run LDPs for pan-Influenza A detection can refer to published sequences from recent human and bovine cases for primer/probe coverage: 

  • Technical Update: Summary Analysis of Genetic Sequences of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses in Texas (cdc.gov) 

  • GISAID - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak in the United States