Footnotes

¹ Social distancing is a key method in reducing the contact between people, and thereby decreasing the spread of pandemic influenza (or any other communicable infectious disease) from person-to-person.

² Avoid any mass gatherings of people, such as social events, movie theaters, and mass transportation. In the workplace, employees should avoid close contact with their coworkers and customers (maintain a separation of at least 6 feet), not shake hands, and always wash their hands after contact with others. In addition, employers need to minimize situations where groups of people are crowded together, such as in a meeting, and instead use e-mail, phones, text messages, and conference calls to communicate with each other. When meetings are necessary, avoid close contact by keeping a separation of at least 6 feet, where possible, and assure that there is proper ventilation in the meeting room.

³ Currently, the DOI Telework and Remote Access Policy (see Appendix I) is under revision. In the event of an emergency situation, such as pandemic influenza, arising prior to the updated policy being released, telework will be conducted through "situational telework".

⁴ For both DM 370 Chapters 610 (Hours of Duty) and 630 (Absence and Leave), the Departmental Manual is being updated; OPM guidance on these topics is current.

⁵ Seasonal influenza characterized by symptoms such as fever, fatigue, body pain, headache, dry cough, and sore throat, and affects large numbers of people each year. Symptoms of H5N1 in humans have generally been more severe, and ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications.

⁶ This group includes personnel with heart and lung disease, metabolic disease, renal disease, and neuromuscular diseases that may compromise respiratory function.

⁷ A 6.2 mile (10 km) radius area surrounding any site where the HPAI virus has been definitively diagnosed, or is suspected in association with a wild bird morality event, will be considered an “infected zone,” within which the risk of HPAI infection is considered to be elevated. The boundary of this “infected zone” may be expanded outward as ecological, epidemiological, or administrative circumstances warrant. This “infected zone” will remain in effect for at least 30 days after the date of the last detection of HPAI in wild birds within the zone.

⁸ Use of respirators including N-95 filtering facepiece respirators requires implementing a Respiratory Protection Program as required by OSHA. This includes training, fit-testing, and fit-checking to ensure appropriate respirator selection and use. To be effective, respirators must provide a proper sealing surface on the wearer's face. Detailed information on respiratory protection programs is provided at: www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/respiratory/index.html and www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/. Under certain high risk conditions such as handling large numbers of birds in a confined area confirmed to have the HPAI virus, it may be necessary to upgrade respiratory protection to powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) or other protection options.

⁹ NIOSH-approved particulate respirators are required when investigating or responding to a wild bird mortality event of unknown origin, of known origin that poses a human respiratory health risk, or whenever conducting field necropsies. However, respiratory protection is not required for biologists handling sick or dead birds in association with a disease outbreak of known origin and no elevated human respiratory health risk.

¹⁰ Refers to situations where the National Veterinary Services Laboratory has made a definitive diagnosis of HPAI in a wild bird or a presumptive diagnosis of an avian influenza virus from a wild bird found dead or moribund.

¹¹ Currently, the DOI Telework and Remote Access Policy are under revision. In the event of an emergency situation, such as pandemic influenza, arising prior to the updated policy being released, telework will be conducted through "situational telework".