Chenango County Public Health offering free vaccines to farmers
Chenango County Public Health is offering free flu vaccines to poultry and dairy farm workers and their families. The program supports farm owners, labor, bulk tank milk drivers, individuals with backyard poultry, hunters, milk testers and more. (Photo by Kelli Miller)
CHENANGO COUNTY - Chenango County Public Health is offering free flu vaccines to poultry and dairy farm workers and their families. The program will support farm owners, labor, bulk tank milk drivers, individuals with backyard poultry, hunters, milk testers and more.
The free vaccine is available through the local health department by calling Chenango County Health Department at 607-337-1660 or visit www.chenangocountyny.gov/206/Public-Health.
"Farm workers and many other agriculture laborers work seven days a week, so this program provides an onsite benefit to make the vaccine more accessible to anyone who would like to receive it," said Cooperative Extension (CCE) Chenango County Executive Director Craig Brown
According to the Health Department, the flu is a serious disease that kills thousands of people each year and at times, can lead to death and is very contagious. The flu is caused by a virus which spreads mainly by coughing, sneezing, or close contact. The flu season lasts from fall through winter and into early spring.
Some of the symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, and tiredness. Serious complications can occur.
Health advisors state the flu vaccine is the best defense against the seasonal flu and noted the vaccine does not inject the virus into the body. They said the Flu vaccine is needed every year because the flu virus changes and protection can decline over time.
Avian influenza A(H5N1) is a type of flu virus known as “bird flu.” The virus mainly affects birds, but farmworkers might be at risk if it’s found in chickens, cows or other animals. It can spread from infected animals to people who work with them.
The flu vaccine doesn’t prevent avian flu but getting your flu vaccine can help avoid getting sick or lessen the symptoms if stricken with both the seasonal flu and bird flu at the same time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone over six months old should get the flu vaccine by the end of October, but you can get the vaccine anytime during flu season.
According to New York State Ag and Markets (AGM), New York State conitnues to take proactive measures through monitoring and encouraging testing to prevent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and facilitate early detection, particularly as the state continues to see HPAI in the wild bird population.
"These detections are always going to be concerning, but we will continue to do all we can to safeguard our state's flocks and livestock," said New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.
"The protocols we have in place, and continue to update for early detection in poultry and livestock are working, helping us identify cases and deploy resources to help," said Ball.
He said they encourage everyone that works with poultry or has backyard poultry, to practice good biosecurity measures by minimizing their bird's exposure to the virus, and to wild bird populations.
The State is also reminding commercial and hobby poultry farmers to increase their biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease and reminds the public the risk for humans to catch HPAI, is low.
In addition to practicing good biosecurity, poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks and geese and their droppings. Outdoor access for poultry should be limited at this time, particularly as the State continues to see HPAI detections in wild bird populations.
The New York State Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald said there is no immediate threat to public health and no known cases of HPAI in humans in New York State. Yet, he does urge anyone with regular contact with livestock and wild birds to remain aware and take precautions and to wear personal protective equipment.
"We will continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Environmental Conservation and our local county health departments to monitor these detections in livestock and poultry as we continue to prepare for any potential risks to public health safety," said McDonald.
Poultry biosecurity materials and checklists can be found on the USDA's Defend the Flock website at USDA.gov.
To report sick birds, unexplained high number of deaths, or sudden drop in egg production, contact AGM's Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502 or the USDA at 866-536-7593.
The free vaccine is available through the local health department by calling Chenango County Health Department at 607-337-1660 or visit www.chenangocountyny.gov/206/Public-Health.
"Farm workers and many other agriculture laborers work seven days a week, so this program provides an onsite benefit to make the vaccine more accessible to anyone who would like to receive it," said Cooperative Extension (CCE) Chenango County Executive Director Craig Brown
According to the Health Department, the flu is a serious disease that kills thousands of people each year and at times, can lead to death and is very contagious. The flu is caused by a virus which spreads mainly by coughing, sneezing, or close contact. The flu season lasts from fall through winter and into early spring.
Some of the symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, and tiredness. Serious complications can occur.
Health advisors state the flu vaccine is the best defense against the seasonal flu and noted the vaccine does not inject the virus into the body. They said the Flu vaccine is needed every year because the flu virus changes and protection can decline over time.
Avian influenza A(H5N1) is a type of flu virus known as “bird flu.” The virus mainly affects birds, but farmworkers might be at risk if it’s found in chickens, cows or other animals. It can spread from infected animals to people who work with them.
The flu vaccine doesn’t prevent avian flu but getting your flu vaccine can help avoid getting sick or lessen the symptoms if stricken with both the seasonal flu and bird flu at the same time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone over six months old should get the flu vaccine by the end of October, but you can get the vaccine anytime during flu season.
According to New York State Ag and Markets (AGM), New York State conitnues to take proactive measures through monitoring and encouraging testing to prevent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and facilitate early detection, particularly as the state continues to see HPAI in the wild bird population.
"These detections are always going to be concerning, but we will continue to do all we can to safeguard our state's flocks and livestock," said New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.
"The protocols we have in place, and continue to update for early detection in poultry and livestock are working, helping us identify cases and deploy resources to help," said Ball.
He said they encourage everyone that works with poultry or has backyard poultry, to practice good biosecurity measures by minimizing their bird's exposure to the virus, and to wild bird populations.
The State is also reminding commercial and hobby poultry farmers to increase their biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease and reminds the public the risk for humans to catch HPAI, is low.
In addition to practicing good biosecurity, poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks and geese and their droppings. Outdoor access for poultry should be limited at this time, particularly as the State continues to see HPAI detections in wild bird populations.
The New York State Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald said there is no immediate threat to public health and no known cases of HPAI in humans in New York State. Yet, he does urge anyone with regular contact with livestock and wild birds to remain aware and take precautions and to wear personal protective equipment.
"We will continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Environmental Conservation and our local county health departments to monitor these detections in livestock and poultry as we continue to prepare for any potential risks to public health safety," said McDonald.
Poultry biosecurity materials and checklists can be found on the USDA's Defend the Flock website at USDA.gov.
To report sick birds, unexplained high number of deaths, or sudden drop in egg production, contact AGM's Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502 or the USDA at 866-536-7593.
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