Employers: prepare now for the other AI

Spread of avian influenza in dairy cows spurs employers to prepare for potential increase in human infections

The threat of a bird flu outbreak, also known as avian influenza, is a significant concern for businesses. As the COVID-19 pandemic taught us, employers play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of such an outbreak on their workforce and operations. 

Several of our clients who use the Enterprise Health software solution to document and manage the health of their employees are prioritizing their preparation for a possible outbreak and planning for how to protect their employees and business continuity. To their benefit, Enterprise Health already has a workflow established for documenting this type of case.

What is bird flu?

Bird flu is caused by influenza viruses that primarily affect birds and dairy cows but can sometimes infect humans. The most notable strain, H5N1, has been associated with severe respiratory illness in humans. While human cases are rare, the high mortality rate and potential for rapid spread make it essential for employers to be proactive in their preparation efforts. 

Tips for preparing for a bird flu outbreak

1. Review your pandemic preparedness plan. Following COVID-19, many organizations have pandemic preparedness plans, but it’s certainly a good time to review those plans and modify them, if necessary. Important factors of the plan include identifying critical business functions and processes that could be affected by an outbreak and assessing the potential impact on your workforce, and overall operations.
2. Contact your EHR vendor to make sure your software includes a workflow specifically for documenting an avian flu exposure using a case management encounter. The Enterprise Health workflow includes an acute exposure avian flu health surveillance panel, initial exposure data collection questionnaire, 0/5/10-day symptom questionnaires, standard portal email notification, standard reporting, and optional multiple exposure collection and copy functionality.
3. Encourage employees to take the flu vaccination. While there is no specific vaccine for bird flu, seasonal flu vaccinations can help reduce overall illness and ease the burden on healthcare systems.
4. Be ready to quickly implement health and safety measures such as encouraging regular hand washing, use of hand sanitizers and increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in the workplace.
5. Establish workplace policies such as sick leave, remote work and travel restrictions.
6. Educate and train employees about the bird flu, its symptoms, transmission and prevention. Use multiple channels to reach all employees.
7. Collaborate with public health authorities to stay informed and follow their guidance. Also, make sure to comply with reporting suspected cases of bird flu among employees. Collaborate with health authorities in the event of an outbreak to ensure a coordinated response.

While the current public health risk is low — and we hope it remains that way — now is the time to prepare. By taking these steps, employers can help not only mitigate the impact of the bird flu but also demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of employees and the resilience of the business.

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