Bird Flu Prevention | Bird Flu Infection Control at Home

Ways to Prevent Infection with the Bird Flu Virus

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of the bird flu virus among family members is to organise good handwashing facilities with warm, running water and a liquid soap dispenser. (The communal use of a bar of soap can spread infection.)

Also provide disposable towels for all family members to use when turning the water on and off, and for drying their hands. Make sure each family member uses these disposable towels, as cloth towels can harbour and transmit the bird flu virus if used more than once by persons that are infected with the virus.

Wash your hands regularly with soap, lathering vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Viruses can live up to 48 hours on the surfaces of doorknobs, steering wheels, books, computer keyboards, toys, and so on. It takes 2-4 days for bird flu symptoms to appear after a person has been infected with the bird flu virus.

If you are coughing and sneezing, wear a bird flu mask. If masks aren't available, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, discard the tissue, then wash your hands well. If you are sick with the flu, wear a mask when others are in your room - this is a must to prevent the spread of bird flu infection.

Don’t pick your nose, rub your eyes, bite your fingernails, suck your thumb, kiss anyone on the mouth, or eat with your fingers! Wash your hands well after using the toilet and after coming in contact with any body fluids - this will be a prime source of bird flu virus.

Clean toilet seats and floors often, wearing gloves, using warm water and detergent, followed by a wash with a good disinfectant solution, which will deactivate the virus. Dry with disposable paper towels.

Wash contaminated laundry in hot water with detergent; hang in the sun for as long as possible. Handle clean laundry with clean hands. (Refer to bird flu prevention, laundry.)

Make sure that cooking and eating utensils are washed in hot soapy water and rinsed with boiling water to kill the bird flu virus. Keep a sick person's dishes separate from other dishes. Wash food well and cook food thoroughly, especially poultry. Avoid eating raw or lightly cooked eggs.

Remove your shoes before entering the house, particularly if you have poultry that free-ranges around your property.