Email notifications were sent on July 1st.

An individual in the Twin Cities that believes they should be enrolled should first confirm with their supervisor or program coordinator. Once confirmed, they should complete the Respiratory Protection Requirement Survey listed on the Respiratory Protection Program website.

Email notifications were sent on June 20th.

An individual on these campuses that believes they should be enrolled should first confirm with their supervisor or program coordinator. Once confirmed, they should complete the Respiratory Protection Requirement Survey listed on the Respiratory Protection Program website.

All employees being fit tested for HPAI should be fit with N95 respirators without valves. Listed below are two examples:

• 3M 9205+
• 3M 8210

However, employees working in dairy barns or outdoor settings should also be fit-tested for a second N95 respirator with an exhalation valve. The purpose of the exhalation valve option is to provide some additional comfort to the employee in occupational environments where it is hot and/or humid and heat-related illnesses are a concern. Listed below are two examples:

• 3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9211+ 
• 3M 8210V Particulate Respirator with Cool Flow Valve

This information is for UMN employees and students who come into contact with dairy cattle, raw milk, and/or birds (wildlife and poultry). 

Per the CDC, Self-observation of potential signs of illness are important to monitor even if you are using PPE and following biosafety instructions. This practice will facilitate timely treatment if necessary. 

Symptoms can include*:

• Fever (Temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or greater) or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
• Eye tearing, redness, or irritation (conjunctivitis)
• Headaches
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Diarrhea

*Note that these signs and symptoms are non-specific and overlap with those caused by other respiratory viruses, including seasonal influenza A and B viruses. Evaluation of symptoms by a physician will determine if further testing, isolation, and/or treatment is warranted.

Observe your health daily for signs of symptoms listed above and if you start having symptoms, seek care.

IMPORTANT: Inform the clinic that you have flu-like symptoms and have been in contact with animals or animal products that are potentially or known to be infected with H5N1.

Paid Employees and Students:

View the Clinical Services website for further information by location. 

Visit the Occupational Health Injury, Illness, and Exposures website for information about first-aid and reporting requirements.

Students (unpaid):

Contact your personal clinic or Boynton Health.

Although the University of Minnesota does not require a flu vaccination for workers with occupational exposure to birds and cattle, we strongly recommend that employees complete the vaccination.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: it is important that people who may have frequent exposure to infected or potentially infected birds or other animals get a seasonal flu vaccine, ideally 2 weeks before their potential exposure. This is because it can reduce the prevalence and severity of seasonal flu and might reduce the very rare risk of coinfection with a human seasonal virus and an avian virus at the same time, and the theoretical risk that reassortment between the two could result in a new virus. Such dual infections, while very rare, could theoretically result in genetic reassortment of the two different influenza A viruses and lead to a new influenza A virus that has a different combination of genes, and which could pose a significant public health concern.

Besides visiting your own provider, the following are options to complete a vaccination:

1. Use this CDC tool to find a local pharmacy in your area. 
2. Make an appointment with one of the Occupational Health clinics listed on our Clinical Services website.

If you complete a vaccination and are sent an invoice, please reach out to the Biosafety and Occupational Health Department by email: [email protected]