Ongoing efforts to prevent the spread and serious infections

California has launched a comprehensive, multi-agency response to avian influenza on dairy and poultry farms to minimize exposure of farm workers, reduce contamination with raw dairy products, and contain the spread of the virus. The state has enlisted technical and operational expertise from local, state and federal governments to support all facets of the response. worked to educate the public, health professionals, employers and workers on prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of avian influenza exposure; Providing employers and employees with comprehensive information about personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements; and distributed millions of pieces of PPE to high-risk dairy farm workers.

Through coordinated public awareness efforts between the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and other agencies, the state is leading a multi-agency response timely public updatesmultilingual reach to dairy and poultry workers, targeted social media efforts to promote preventive practices, Online and printed resources for the publicand media interviews to keep Californians informed. Additionally, the state is ensuring farmworkers have access to additional doses of the seasonal flu vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce concurrent flu risks.

Officials have also worked closely with the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local health and agriculture officials as part of a whole-of-government effort to coordinate, implement, and ensure that potential avian influenza cases be monitored and examined promptly.