UK Facilities Management and Consultancy

The Next Pandemic: Preventing Zoonotic Diseases

Practical recommendations that can help tackle the emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus and other ‘zoonoses’—diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans.

1. PROPER PERSONAL HYGIENE

  1. Wash hands before and after animal handling.
  2. Do not eat or drink in the animal housing areas. 
  3. Wear coveralls, farm specific clothing or laboratory coats when handling animals.
  4. Avoid handling sick animals or animals with lesions unless gloved.
  5. Wear a mask if you are allergic to animal hair or dander or if feed or bedding dust is present.
  6. If you are sick, DO NOT enter the agricultural animal facilities.  You are more susceptible to other infective agents and you may transfer pathogens to the animals!
  7. Routinely wear gloves when cleaning animal area.
  8. Note progression of any illness.  Report illnesses to your supervisor or the authorities. 
  9. Inform physician of your animal related activities.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL MAINTENANCE

  1. Keep animal housing areas well organized and clean.
  1. Avoid urine and fecal build-up.  Dry feces result in fecal dust which may be inhaled.
  2. Clean rooms have a lower likelihood of horizontal or zoonotic transfer.
  3. Proper ventilation protects the animal and workers.
  4. Clean feed and bedding from floors.  Litter attracts vermin which may introduce a zoonotic disease into the facility.

3. HERD/FLOCK MAINTENANCE

  1. Observe animals for health status on a daily basis.
  2. Report sick or dead animals.
  3. Note health problems such as diarrhea, difficulty breathing, depressed, immobile.
  4. Take extra caution in cleaning the areas around ill animals. Don’t spread possible pathogens.
  5. Isolate affected animals as appropriate.
  6. Record history or progression of animal disease. 

Read the Full Article Here

At UK Facilities Management & Consultancy, we can advise on, and provide secure collection and destruction of Wild and Domestic Animals, Prohibited Plants, Plant Pests, Pathogens and Soil across the UK.

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