The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Office of Occupational Health would like to remind researchers that the University provides multiple opportunities around campus to take advantage of the seasonal flu vaccine.
WVU Occupational Medicine has offered to arrange a vaccination clinic for off-campus Research Education and Outreach Centers that may experience difficulties in access.
To arrange a clinic at your site, representatives should contact WVU Occupational Medicine at 304-293-3693
As the Avian Flu (H5N1) aka “bird flu” spreads among agricultural animal populations in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control has issued information regarding the prevalence.
Notably, the flu has been found in poultry, dairy cattle, felines associated with agricultural facilities and 13 recognized human cases of the disease contracted mainly through contact with farm animals.
In an effort to curb the possible spread and mutation of the disease into the human population, the CDC is making efforts to increase uptake of the human seasonal flu vaccine among agricultural workers.
While the seasonal flu vaccine provides no protection against H5N1, it may help in preventing the rare cases of co-infection with both the H5N1 and seasonal flu viruses. It may also prevent the misdiagnosis of anyone infected with H5N1 as having the seasonal flu.
Learn more about ways agricultural personnel can protect themselves against H5N1.