PPE Available For Producers
People who have contact with farm animals are more likely than the general public to be exposed to various pathogens (germs) that can cause illness. The best way to protect yourself from getting sick from these pathogens is to practice good habits, including frequent hand washing and avoiding touching your face, and to wear appropriate PPE, which stands for personal protective equipment.
Due to a new disease outbreak of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) H5N1 among dairy cattle, increased and consistently used PPE is recommended. Poultry have been and are still becoming infected with H5N1. H5N1 is a virus that can cause a disease known as avian influenza or “bird flu.” Although it is rare, people can get sick with bird flu when they come into contact with infected birds or other animals, their body fluids including milk or feces, or contact with their environments.
We know you’re invested in keeping people and animals on your farm healthy and safe, and PPE can help you do that. In general, wearing coveralls, boots that can be disinfected, gloves, and eye protection can help protect workers from splashes and sprays on a farm. Use more than your usual PPE if there are cows, birds, or other animals sick with signs of H5N1 or if H5N1 has been confirmed. The following PPE is recommended: disposable gloves, safety goggles, NIOSH-approved respirator (an N95 mask), disposable head/hair cover, disposable fluid-resistant coveralls, and rubber boots. Face shields can also be used when liquids, such as milk, might splash onto a mask.
Washington state has PPE in stock and can make it available to your facility upon request. Currently, available PPE includes disposable gloves, face masks, and eye protection including safety goggles, safety glasses, and face shields. This is a one-time provision of PPE. Should you have sick animals or a detection of H5N1 on your farm, this may serve as a stopgap until you can order more and in an ongoing way.
PPE is available on request for commerical:
- Dairy producers
- Poultry producers
- Milk processing facilities
- Slaughterhouses
Current available PPE includes:
- Disposable gloves
- Face masks
- Eye protection - safety goggles, safety glasses, and face shields
Complete the online order form at:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/26dad30fbcae471389b144ab6123ee4c.
The state will fill the order and cover shipping. The amount of PPE that is sent will be calculated based on the number of employees and farm personnel (veterinarians, nutritionists, consultants, etc.) that are entered into the online order form.
USDA Implements Federal Order to Protect the Livestock Industry
To help producers enhance their biosecurity practices, USDA is offering additional support for producers who have HPAI confirmed positive dairy herds so they have tools to eliminate the virus and can protect their animals, themselves, their families, and their employees. Dairy producers with premises that have been confirmed positive for HPAI are eligible for USDA support to conduct activities that best fit their operations. Support for these interventions is available for a period of up to 120 days from the date of confirmation of H5N1 in cattle on the affected premises. Interested producers can learn more about enrollment into this program.
Is it a problem in Washington State?
Avian influenza is described as low-pathogenic avian influenza, or LPAI, and high-pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. The low-pathogenic strain occurs naturally in wild birds and can spread to domestic birds. In this form, the disease is typically not fatal, however it can cause respiratory problems in some birds. Low-pathogenic avian influenza has been found in wild birds in Washington for many years.
High-pathogenic avian influenza is fatal in poultry and spreads quickly. The first outbreak of high-pathogenic avian influenza occurred in Washington in 2014. We expect the disease will remain an on-going risk for poultry in our state.
Even low-pathogenic strains of the virus have the potential to mutate into high-pathogenic strains in domestic ducks, chickens, and other types of poultry.
How do birds get avian influenza?
Infected birds can spread avian influenza through their saliva, nasal secretions and feces. If non-infected birds come in contact with infected birds, they can easily become infected. Birds can also become infected from contaminated equipment or materials. In Washington, wild birds may be one way the virus is transmitted.
What are the symptoms of avian influenza in birds?
Low-pathogenic symptoms: | High-pathogenic symptoms: | |
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Other possible symptoms:
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How can you prevent avian influenza in birds?
The best way to prevent birds from becoming infected is to keep the virus from reaching your birds in the first place. Biosecurity refers to practices anyone can take to make sure they do not carry disease into or out of an area housing poultry. These measures can include washing boots or shoes before entering and when leaving a chicken coop, sanitizing equipment used around poultry and wearing clean clothing around birds.
Limit contact with your birds
- Do not allow visitors and animals to have access to your birds.Keep your poultry separate from water fowl, especially wild water fowl.
- People who work with your birds should not own or be around other birds.
- Provide visitors with disposable boots, or have them clean their shoes before and after their visit.
Keep it clean
- Keep some shoes and clothes to wear only around your birds. Or be sure to wear clean clothes and disinfect your shoes before visiting your birds.
- Scrub shoes with a scrub brush and disinfectant to remove droppings, mud, and debris.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, water, and disinfectant before entering your bird area.
Don't bring disease home
- If you visit someplace that has birds or where bird owners visit, like a feed store, clean and disinfect your vehicle and anything else that travelled with you.
- When returning from a fair or exhibition, keep the birds that attended separate from the rest of the flock for at least 2 weeks.
- Keep new birds separate from the flock for at least 30 days.
- Don't share equipment, birds, or other items with neighbors or other bird owners.
Below is a recording of a 2021 WSDA webinar on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and steps poultry owners can take to protect their birds from this disease:
What if my birds catch avian influenza?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for avian influenza. If one or more of your birds are found to have the virus, the only option is to humanely euthanize your flock. High pathogenic avian influenza kills the majority of birds infected in a matter of days, sometimes within a single day. Birds infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza can spread the virus among flocks.
While euthanizing a flock is a painful process for bird owners, it is the only way to prevent the virus from spreading to other flocks. For flock owners who have invested in their birds or earn income from them, in some cases the USDA will provide compensation for the loss of birds euthanized to contain an outbreak of avian influenza.
Are poultry products safe to eat?
- Wash hands and clean and sanitize work surfaces and equipment.
- Do not wash poultry.
- Separate raw and cooked meat to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cook poultry thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Keep poultry stored at 40 F or below or, in the freezer at 0 F or below.
Response plans created by WSDA and other government agencies, along with the poultry industry, are designed to protect the nation’s poultry supply.
Avian flu response plans typically include:
- Establishing quarantine zones in areas with infected poultry flocks and prohibiting the movement of poultry and poultry products, like eggs, from quarantine zones.
- Extensive testing of birds in the surrounding area to ensure the virus has not spread.
Consumers should look for the USDA label on poultry products you purchase – this means the meat has been inspected to ensure it is safe.
- Commercial grocery stores sell only federally inspected poultry.
Can people become sick from avian influenza?
To learn more about avian influenza in humans:
- Visit the Avian Influenza in humans webpage on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
- Visit the Washington Department of Health's avian influenza webpage for more information on human health.
- Avian Influenza and your health (pdf)
- Backyard poultry (DOH)
Information for hunters
- Guidance for Hunters—Protect Yourself and Your Birds From Avian Influenza (U.S. Department of Agriculture) [PDF]
- Avian influenza information (WDFW)
- Avian Influenza and your health (pdf) (WDOH)
Information for veterinarians
- Educate your clients about on the risks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Washington.
- If you handle sick birds, wear protective clothing such as disposable gloves, a mask, coveralls, and boots.
- Isolate any ill birds and contact WSDA if you suspect avian influenza.
If you visit anyplace that has poultry, be sure to follow strict biosecurity measures entering and leaving. Also:
- Limit and record your movements and the movement of vehicles onto farms.
- If you visit a farm and suspect birds there are infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, stay on the farm and contact WSDA immediately.
- Wash and disinfect items going on and off farms, such as footwear, vehicles and equipment.
Who to call
Issue: | Contact: |
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If you experience unexplained illness or death in your domestic flock |
WSDA Avian Health Program |
For food safety questions |
WSDA Food Safety Program |
If you are concerned because you or your family member becomes sick. |
Washington State Department of Health |
Report sick, injured, or dead wild birds to WDFW | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlfe |
More Information
- HPAI in cats flyer (Jan. 2025)
- USDA Defend the Flock program
- USDA avian influenza fact sheet
- USDA publications on avian influenza
- CDC Avian influenza information for health professionals
- Avian influenza in wild birds
- CDC information on avian influenza
- OIE avian influenza portal
- WSDA avian indluenza brochure for bird owners, consumers, and veterinarians
- WSDA fair biosecurity brochure
- WSDA Protecting Backyard Flocks sign