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ā€‹Guidance for People with Possible or Confirmed Bird Flu Infection

To date, there has been no person-to-person spread of bird flu in the United States. The following recommendations are based on currently available information. They apply to people who are not in the hospital who:   ā€‹

  • Have symptoms of bird flu.  

  • Are waiting to be tested for bird flu.  

  • Are waiting for bird flu test results.  

  • Have a confirmed bird flu test result.   ā€‹

ā€‹Check with your local health department about modified isolation and work exclusion. They may have different recommendations or requirements in place. 

Recommendations

Monitor your symptoms if sick.  

  • ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹Go to a healthcare provider right away if you start to feel worse or if you have trouble breathing.  

If you need healthcare 

  • Tell your healthcare provider that you have or are being checked for bird flu. 

    • ā€‹This way, steps can be taken to protect other people.  

  • Wear a mask if you enter any healthcare facility. ā€‹ā€‹

Modified workplace isolation 

If you feel well enough to work 

You may work if you and your coworkers do all of the following:  

  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while working. 

  • Wash hands often with soap and water.  

    • If you canā€™t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.  

  • Wear well-fitting facemasks while together:  

    • In breakrooms.  

    • Other areas where PPE is typically not worn. 

    • Sharing transportation to and from work. ā€Æ ā€‹

Isolation at home

ā€‹Stay home unless it is necessary to:ā€‹

  • See a healthcare provider.

  • Go to work. 

ā€‹If you are taking prescribed antiviral flu medication:  

  • Continue to take it as prescribed unless told to stop.  

ā€‹If living with other people or pets: 

  • Avoid contact with other people and pets where possible.ā€Æā€Æ 

    • ā€‹Wear a well-fitting mask indoors if you are around other people or pets.  

    • ā€‹Cough or sneeze into your elbow, arm, or a disposable tissue. Make sure to throw away your tissue, then wash or sanitize your hands.  

    • ā€‹Avoid contact with people at increased risk.ā€Æ 

  • Before contact with each other, you and others should wash your hands with soap and water often.    

    • ā€‹If you canā€™t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.  

  • Avoid touching your eyes if you have an eye infection.  

  • At least daily, clean and disinfect items or surfaces that are touched often.   

  • Avoid sharing bedding, towels, wash cloths, and personal items with other people.  

    • This is especially important if these items have come in contact with your eyes.  

    • Wash items before other people use them.    ā€‹ā€‹

When to stop isolation 

If test results are negative, isolation can stop. 

If bird flu test is positive:  ā€‹

You may stop isolation when all of these are true:  

  • If you had an eye infection, your eyes are no longer red, irritated or draining.   

  • Any other symptoms are mild and improving. 

  • Any fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine. Fever means a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher. 

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