Background on Integrating Hygiene in Avian Influenza Prevention and Control

Improving hygiene and sanitation practices is critical to halting the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and preventing a possible pandemic. While domesticated birds contract the virus from wild birds, HPAI is usually spread from flock to flock when infected birds are bought and sold and when there is human contact with bird droppings on equipment, cages, feed, vehicles, or shoes/clothing. Engaging in good hygienic practices is not only an imperative safety measure to prevent the virus from spreading among domesticated poultry it also reduces the chances the virus will spread from animals to humans. Finding feasible options to support recommended hygiene practices and more realistic alternatives in resource-poor communities is the key to encouraging the adoption of new behaviors. For additional information, see HIP’s new brief on avian influenza below.