BELTON, Mo. — 79 staff members called out sick across the Belton school district Thursday.

There weren’t substitutes to fill 25 of those absences and so, starting Friday, students will go back to virtual learning.

“It’d be like a snow day, but we’d be at home and working or still do schoolwork,” Cassie Lancaster, a middle schooler in the district said.

Lancaster doesn’t mind that she’ll do her learning online Friday, Monday and Tuesday, but she’d rather be in the classroom

“I like it, having teachers right there, being able to directly explain it to me,” Lancaster said.

However, there are dozens of teachers and staff members in the district fighting COVID-19, which is putting a strain on classrooms, bus routes and school cafeterias.

“On a typical day, we might have a few positions that we couldn’t fill by with a substitute, but to have 25 positions, you know, even if you spread those across, it puts a strain on our staff,” Andrew Underwood, Superintendent of schools at the Belton School District said.

To alleviate the situation the district is tapping into the five days the state of Missouri has set aside for the pandemic and bad weather to go remote.

“I mean, my kids prefer being in school, but my kids also wear a mask every single day and they’re both vaccinated,” Lindsey Buckley, a parent said. “So I mean, I’m doing my part and I wish other people would do the same and then we wouldn’t have them home.”

Administrators hope the time apart will help slow the spread of the virus and give custodial staff a chance to disinfect their buildings.

“Well they do need to do deep cleaning of the school,” Jennifer Lancaster, Cassie’s mother said. “My kids have come in contact a couple of times, but we’ve never had COVID yet.”

And while students won’t be in the classroom, school leaders are making arrangements to provide meals during the three days of online learning.

“I thought when this has started back in March of 2020, that I honestly said surely by January ’22, will be in a much better spot, but I just don’t know that we’re probably worse off as far as the spread of this virus right now than we were back then,” Underwood said.

If the district ends up using the two remaining days of alternative instruction, they’ll have to make the day’s up at the end of the school year.

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We want to hear from you on what resources Kansas City families might benefit from to help us all through the pandemic. If you have five minutes, feel free to fill out this survey to help guide our coverage: KSHB COVID Survey.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its mask recommendations to align with what experts and many other people have long known: N95s and other respirator masks (when they are legitimate and fit properly) are more protective than most cloth face masks are. But these disposable respirator masks cost $1 to $3 apiece, and throwing them out as quickly as you would paper cups can add up, especially if you’re masking your entire family. You might also be concerned about the environmental cost of disposable masks, which are constructed from nonrecyclable materials. Fortunately, for most people and in most situations, you don’t need to chuck your mask after each use, or each day. Here are some answers to common questions about reusing your disposable mask.

How can I safely reuse a mask?

You can re-wear a mask after you have stored it in a paper bag for a few days, according to the CDC and multiple experts we’ve interviewed for our respirator guide. The agency provides a simple strategy for healthcare workers that involves rotating used masks in brown paper bags, a variation of which was employed during the N95 shortage in the early days of the pandemic. The coronavirus has an expected survival time of about 72 hours, so waiting for, say, five to seven days should be enough time for it to be inactivated.

Personally, to keep track, I have five masks on rotation and seven brown paper bags marked with the days of week, lined up on my windowsill. I place my mask in the appropriately labeled bag between uses during the day and at the end of it. After a week has passed, I either take the mask out to wear or move it to an eighth bag marked “Ready to Use.”

Is it really safe to reuse masks right now, considering how infectious Omicron is?

Yes, reusing a mask is safe. Masks work the same way on any variant—by trapping virus-containing particles in their layers. Also, the coronavirus is transmitted mainly through respiration; you’re less likely to catch it by touching an infected surface. That said, it’s safest, and just good hygiene, to handle your masks with care, touching only the elastics and washing your hands afterward.

What if my mask gets wet?

Moisture, even from your breath, degrades the mask little by little, and that process will probably hasten if you’re wearing the mask to work out at the gym or if you’re in a humid room or climate. If your mask is wet due to condensation from breathing, you can reuse it. Keeping those paper bags in a dry spot (ideally by a sunny window) can help enhance the viral-deactivation process, said Christopher Sulmonte, project administrator at the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit, a facility for patients with emerging infectious diseases. If your mask gets drenched (say, you get caught in the rain), throw it away.

Can I wash my mask or disinfect it with bleach or alcohol?

Though you may be tempted to rinse or wash your used disposable mask, even just to freshen it up, don’t try it. Getting the mask wet or agitating the mask with soap can damage the material.

You also shouldn’t attempt to disinfect your used mask with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other chemicals. A 2020 Emerging Infectious Diseases research letter reported that treating a disposable face mask with alcohol reduced the mask’s integrity and therefore its filtration efficiency. Hydrogen peroxide worked better, but the researchers applied it using a specialized machine, something you wouldn’t find outside a lab or hospital setting. Bleach or other disinfectants are a bad idea, too: Not only would they damage the mask, but “you don’t want to risk breathing in any disinfectant that remains on the respirator,” said Nikki Vars McCullough, a vice president at 3M’s Personal Safety Division.

What about treating the mask with heat or UV light?

That same paper published in 2020, amid the N95 shortage, found that dry-heat decontamination can be effective only one or two times, and UV for three times, before the mask’s fit and filtration may be compromised. Although these methods may be important in medical settings highly exposed to COVID-19 during a respirator shortage and in need of techniques to immediately zap away viruses, they require a strict protocol that’s impossible to follow for most people outside of a healthcare setting. You’re better off using the paper-bag method. “It’s a lot easier, less expensive, and there’s less of a chance that you’ll be hurting the mask,” said Sulmonte.

When is it time to throw out the mask?

“There’s no hard and fast rule,” said Sulmonte. The CDC paper-bag directive suggests discarding a disposable N95 mask after five uses. But that guideline was meant for workers in a healthcare setting. For everybody else, that may not be necessary. A mask is still wearable if its elastic bands continue to create a secure fit and the material looks clean and provides good airflow. (Dust, pollen, air pollutants, makeup, skin oils, and, yes, inactivated virus eventually accumulate and clog up the filter.)

Also think about where you’ve worn the mask and for how long. Someone who wears a mask in the subway every day, for example, may need to throw it out sooner than someone who wears theirs to the grocery store every once in a while. Whatever the circumstances, switch to a fresh mask if yours is dirty, thinning, damaged, or hard to breathe through, or if it no longer maintains a good seal.

Is there any situation where I should throw it out after one use?

Yes! Assuming replacements are readily available, Sulmonte advises throwing a mask away if you’ve been in a place where high virus exposure is expected—for instance, if you’ve been interacting with a COVID-19–positive person.

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Norristown, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Health officials today provided an update on 2021-2022 flu season and encouraged Pennsylvanians to get a flu vaccine as soon as possible.   

“With the growing number of flu cases amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to remind Pennsylvanians to take preventative measures, including getting a flu vaccine to protect themselves, their family and communities from the flu this season,” Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said. “If you do become sick with the flu, it is imperative that you stay home. If you are at risk for developing serious complications from the flu, or feel extremely ill, you should see a medical professional immediately to determine your need for testing or isolation.”

Flu activity is high across the commonwealth. As of Jan. 18, there have been 28,475 laboratory-confirmed flu cases. There are flu cases in all 67 counties. Influenza A and B have been identified by laboratory testing. Influenza-Like Illness (ILI), experiencing symptoms of fever and cough or sore throat, has increased slightly since last week. While flu seasons vary and more people are getting tested more frequently as COVID-19 symptoms can be like flu symptoms, this week’s report is higher than this same week last year and even higher when compared to this same week in 2019. At this time, it is still below the state epidemic threshold. There have been 16 deaths reported in Pennsylvania during the current flu season thus far.

“It is not too late to get your flu vaccine if you have not already done so,” Deputy Secretary of Health Preparedness and Community Protection Ray Barishansky said. “We know that people who get the flu after being vaccinated have less severe symptoms and are not sick for as long as those who do not get vaccinated. We also know that the COVID-19 vaccines do not protect you from getting the flu. So, while we have been encouraging everyone to get COVID-19 vaccines, you still also need to get   your flu vaccine.”

The flu vaccine is available as an injection for anyone six months or older and as an injection or nasal spray for anyone two or older. Flu vaccines are available at your doctor’s office, pharmacy, local walk-in clinic or grocery store. COVID-19 and flu vaccines can be received at the same time. For a list of flu vaccination clinics in Pennsylvania, click here.

“An annual flu vaccine is free and it’s the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications,” Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Dr. Val Arkoosh said. “In Montgomery County, we want to make it as easy as possible to stay up to date on your vaccinations, so we continue to offer the flu vaccine to those attending our COVID-19 vaccination clinics. There is still time to get vaccinated for the flu. Getting both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine protects you, your family, and our hospitals.”

It is extremely important that in addition to getting vaccinated, Pennsylvanians should practice healthy habits such as covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, frequently washing your hands, and remembering to disinfect commonly touched objects, including doorknobs, light switches, countertops, cell phones and computers. You can also take advantage of the COVID Alert PA app to monitor your flu and COVID-19 symptoms since they are similar.

For more information on the 2021-2022 flu season, click here.

Additional information on how to stay healthy and prevent the spread of flu and COVID-19 can be found on the Department of Health’s website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark O’Neill – [email protected]

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This article is sponsored by Lysol. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Motherly and mamas.

Maintaining a cleaner home might be easier than you think

It’s a pandemic parent’s ultimate catch-22: We’ve spent months (and months) waiting to get together with friends and family safely only to stress over every cough and surface touched when we’re together. To make matters more stressful, COVID variants and cold and flu season are also upon us and we must be more vigilant than ever to keep our loved ones protected. 

But stopping germs doesn’t have to mean stopping life. Lysol has been a leader in germ kill and pandemic preparedness for 130 years as outlined in their documentary below. Now they’re using their germ-fighting prowess to help prevent the spread of germs in homes and schools by encouraging regular hand washing, wearing masks and disinfecting surfaces, among other healthy habits. They’ve even partnered with about 30,000 schools nationwide as part of the Lysol HERE for Healthy Schools Program–an initiative that aims to help kids miss less school so they are able to learn, grow and thrive through education, funding research, and working with partners – donating 230,000 Kinsa smart thermometers and over 15 million Lysol disinfecting products to schools in need. 

Click here to learn what Lysol is doing to help keep schools protected this cold and flu season, and sign up for their newsletter here for more information, tips and tricks from a leader in germ-kill.

Fortunately, when it comes to helping stop germs at home and at school, there’s plenty you can do with ease and little time commitment for a big germ-kill impact.  Here are a few of Lysol’s tips for helping to protect your loved ones this cold and flu season. 

Start with a good defense.

If you’re planning a playdate or small gathering (or even just navigating a busier than usual home with more people staying indoors), set your home up as a clean slate. Not only will your home sparkle, but cleaning and disinfecting will also help prevent the spread of germs on surfaces to your family or guests. Look for a disinfecting spray that kills viruses (including the cold, flu, and COVID-19 viruses) on surfaces, including soft ones—like the area rug your toddler loves to roll all over. We love Lysol® Disinfectant Spray, which kills 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and fungi when used as directed, and can be used in virtually every room of your home.

Plan your maintenance strategy.

Sanitizing stations in heavily trafficked areas can help cut down on germs passed in a busy home or classroom (especially with kids spending more time indoors lately). Keep bottles of hand sanitizer in each room, and make sure the bathrooms and kitchens are stocked with easy-to-access disinfecting wipes to make it easy for you—and adults around you—to sanitize surfaces throughout the day. Lysol ® Disinfecting Wipes can even be used to clean smart devices and remote controls, and they’re three times stronger than a paper towel to clean more with less. While you’re at it, you may want to grab a few to-go Lysol Disinfecting Wipes packs to keep in your car, purse or diaper bag, too.

Take some of the dirty work off your hands.

Look for cleaning options that make less work for you. We love Lysol® Click Gel Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner for a messy hot-spot—the bathroom. These clever cleaners attach to the inside of your toilet bowl with one click and last for up to two weeks, which equates to a cleaner bathroom with zero extra effort. While you’re cleaning the bathroom, you should probably tuck a Lysol Neutra Air 2 in 1 in there, too—it disinfects surfaces while also deodorizing and freshening the air.

Wash away what’s left.

As we pay extra attention to cleaning surfaces throughout cold and flu season, we often forget a sneaky germ hideout: our own bed linens! Make sure you don’t have germs trying to overstay their welcome by using a good laundry sanitizer for linens. Lysol® Laundry Sanitizer kills 99.9% of bacteria that other detergents leave behind (and kills the COVID-19 virus in pre-soak) without the use of bleach. Add to your rinse cycle to sterilize your laundry in one load.

Equip your kids with great hygiene hacks. It’s understandable for parents to have concerns about sending their kids off to school amidst cold and flu season and a pandemic. After all, their health is any parent’s top priority, and kids are known to bring more than artwork and homework home from the classroom. Giving your kids good hygiene hacks like washing their hands thoroughly and often with soapy water, wearing their mask, and even sending them to school with Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes for teachers to use on their desks can help cut down their exposure to illness-causing germs.

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school in pandemic, covid, school reopenings covid, covid-19, germs

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Tuscaloosa City Schools will take a systemwide break from in-person learning, closing on Friday and holding virtual classes on Monday at all schools.

In an email to parents, Superintendent Mike Daria said a shortage of substitute teachers and bus drivers brought on by a surge in COVID-19 cases led to the decision. The goal is to resume in-person classes on Tuesday, he said.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS:  Kentuck lands NEA grant to expand art project for underserved students

“By building in a block of time (Jan. 21-24) with students at home, this will allow an opportunity to decrease the current staffing challenges,” Daria said. “We will also use these days to disinfect our school buildings. Further, our teachers will be able to build back their classroom planning while other departments assess needs for future operations.”

The system has been able to fill about 42% of the teacher vacancies, Daria said, leaving numerous classrooms without a substitute.

“While our schools have managed with internal scheduling and incredible faculty/staff members, it has pulled our teachers and other personnel from their planning and other responsibilities,” he said.

He also noted that the system’s transportation department has been operating with about 30 unfilled routes, with projected absences of up to 20 bus drivers.

“We are very close to not being able to provide this essential service. This time will allow us to get our drivers back from leave while providing us an opportunity to disinfect all of our buses,” Daria said.

The system’s latest numbers show 2.93% percent of students in Tuscaloosa City Schools reported as testing positive for COVID-19, along with 3.68% of employees. The daily attendance rate has been around 84%.

Staffing shortages also led to virtual classes being held Thursday at five Tuscaloosa City Schools: Paul W. Bryant High, Westlawn Middle, Eastwood Middle, Southview Elementary and Tuscaloosa Magnet-Middle.

While Daria said students and teachers will return to the classroom on Tuesday, he didn’t rule out further closures or days of virtual learning.

“When we return to our schools on Tuesday, we will continue to make school-by-school decisions based on the staffing issues at each school,” Daria said.

“We thank you for your understanding as we move through this challenging time.”

Reach Ken Roberts at [email protected].

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Heather Black will be the new superintendent for the Neelyville R-IV School District when current superintendent Debra Parrish retires.

Black is currently principal of Neelyville Elementary.

The decision was made Tuesday during a special meeting of the school board, which also has closed campuses through Friday due to illness among both students and staff.

Neelyville faculty and staff received emails making the announcement Wednesday morning, after the district’s school board members met late Tuesday night to conduct interviews and make their decision.

Seven people applied for Parish’s job and the board interviewed four.

Parish said it is her pleasure to announce Black’s appointment.

Black has worked at the Neelyville district for nine years. She has been curriculum director since 2013. This is her second year as the Neelyville Elementary principal.

Black’s “skills and work ethic are exemplary,” Parish said, “I am confident the district will flourish with her at the helm.”

Black said, “It is an honor and a privilege to be given the appointment of the next superintendent of Neelyville.”

When Parish announced her retirement, Black decided to apply for the superintendent’s spot, because in each position she has held, “I have been leading the district in some way. I am deeply committed to leading our students, educators and families to continue the mission of the school district.”

Black continued, “my main goal for the new position is to lead our school’s district to see the next level of greatness and to continue on the path we are on to achieve success.”

Black believes, “coming from within the district, it is going to ease the transition time, from one superintendent to the other. I’m following a great leader and following in her footsteps to take over the reins.”

Parish agreed and said while Black will retain her position for the remainder of the year, “we will begin the transition immediately.”

Before joining the Neelyville staff, Black taught in the Poplar Bluff school system.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Southeast Missouri State University and her specialist degree from William Woods University.

A native of Poplar Bluff, she is married to Tim Black. She has two grown sons and a daughter-in-law. One son is in college and one is working.

Away from school, Black said, “I love to travel. I love to experience new cultures and see new things the world has to offer.”

Parish’s retirement is effective July 1. Her resignation was accepted at the November board meeting.

Neelyville board members will meet again Thursday for their regular monthly meeting.

They are hopeful this week’s closure will allow time for illnesses to dissipate among students and staff.

Parish acknowledged, “it is always a difficult decision to know when to close during times of contagious illnesses. (Tuesday), we had 21 staff members out and our attendance rate was at 79.5%.

“Numerous children were sent home throughout the day with fevers, sore throats, headaches, vomiting, etc. We have students and staff with COVID-19, strep and flu.”

Parish explained the goal during the closure is to do a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the facilities.

“This timeout will give everyone an opportunity to rest and recuperate,” she said. “And, it will limit the risk of exposure to our students and staff. Hopefully, most will be well and we can begin anew on Monday.”

Parish described Tuesday as “difficult due to the extensive staff shortage, the entire team here pulled together and made ‘school happen’ for the students in attendance. A big thank you to all of them for their extra efforts.”

While the school is closed three days, Parish said, “we will be doing AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) on days three, four and five. We have also canceled ball games for the remainder of the week.”

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With its patented purification tech that can trap everything from dust to even odor molecules, the Kronos© Air 5G© is a sleek, quiet air purifier with a small visual and energy footprint. Its collecting plate can be washed and reused, saving money as well as reducing waste, and the purifier itself is so effective, it comes recommended even for asthma patients and people with allergies and lung diseases.

Designer: Kronos Advanced Technologies

Click Here to Buy Now: $549 $649 ($100 off for YD readers only). Hurry, for a limited time only!

This may sound like somewhat of an exaggeration (and it’s absolutely alright if you think so), but the air purifier is set to be the next biggest revolution in urban living, after electricity, cars, and the internet. As we finally begin realizing that air quality isn’t something we can collectively ignore, the purifier is poised to become a must-have in every home, offering a higher and better standard of living by giving us healthy, clean air. Why else would the Tesla come with an over-the-top ‘biohazard’ air purification mode??

Unlike regular purifiers that use HEPA filters, which are about as primitive as just using a piece of cloth to trap particles, the Kronos Air 5G Model 5 (or X5 for short) uses technology that’s much more capable when it comes to trapping particles, destroying microorganisms, and freshening and disinfecting the air. The Kronos Air 5G X5’s collecting plate actively destroys 99.99% of airborne bacteria, mold, and virus particles (it’s also been tested and verified to destroy the COVID-19 virus), while also trapping and destroying air pollutants down to 0.0146 µm (that’s about 30x smaller than what a HEPA filter can catch). Meanwhile, the Air 5G X5’s filter-less collecting plates can be clean and reused over and over again – all they need is a rinse under running water and they’re ready to be reused, cutting down on recurring costs.

Each Air 5G X5 comes with internal laser air sensors that can detect the air quality in the room, displaying it on the purifier’s screen along with a colored LED light to tell you whether the air is good (green), moderate (orange), or in desperate need for purification (red). When switched on, you can either control the X5 via a smartphone app, or allow it to automatically adjust its functionality based on your room’s air quality. Once active, the X5’s high-volume airflow can disinfect a 450 sq. ft. room thrice every hour, while generating a quiet hum that’s definitely on the quieter side compared to traditional air purifiers that have to push large volumes of air through a thick HEPA filter. Meanwhile, the X5’s technology can trap and neutralize regular pollutants like dust, pet hair, and pollen, microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and molds, as well as bad smells and odors, cigarette smoke, and even asbestos particles.

The Air 5G Model 5 is the mid-sized purifier in Kronos’ line-up, perfectly sized for regular homes. It occupies 1 sq. ft. of space on the floor, and stands at just 2 feet tall, making it small enough to place in most rooms. The X5 has a power consumption of 60W, making it about as energy efficient as a light-bulb, and is priced at a discounted $549 with a 1-year warranty, and a reusable collecting plate that doesn’t incur any additional costs for the next decade or so.

Click Here to Buy Now: $549 $649 ($100 off for YD readers only). Hurry, for a limited time only!

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KINGSPORT — Petworks Animal Services remains closed due to COVID-19 exposure of at least six employees, Tom Parham, president of the shelter’s board, told the Times News.

The shelter’s closure began on Saturday, January 15, Parham said on Monday, at which point three of 13 full- and part-time employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

Parham left a message for the Times News on Tuesday evening to say three additional employees had since tested positive and the shelter would remain closed to the public at least two more days.

Parham noted the shelter is normally closed on Wednesdays anyway.

Parham said he also tested positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated, but his symptoms so far have been mild and as of Monday afternoon he was feeling on the mend.

The first three employees who tested positive also were fully vaccinated, Parham said.

The goal of the shelter closure, announced on social media and on signs posted on the facility’s front doors, is twofold, Parham said: reduce the chance of spread of COVID-19 among employees (which would further hamper the shelter’s ability to operate); and, foremost, protect the public.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we get through this,” Parham said on Monday.

In the message he left Tuesday, Parham said again he wanted to assure the public the animals are still being cared for by some staff and the 50 or so volunteers who regularly help out to disinfect the shelter, feed the animals and spend time with the animals.

And the shelter is fully stocked with a wide selection of adoptable dogs and cats, Parham said, noting those in search of a pet can browse dogs and cats available from Petworks on the shelter’s website.

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Atlanta, GA – The Maid In Vinings booking platform allows clients to get fast pricing by filling out an online booking form, booking their cleaning, and paying for it all online. They can also register an account to view, alter, and make notes to their forthcoming cleanings, as well as check who is assigned to their cleaning. After the cleaning is completed, they will be able to rate their cleaner on the platform.

The online booking procedure is straightforward. Firstly, the client must choose the date and hour that they want the expert cleaners to arrive. Secondly, a background-checked cleaner arrives to clean the premises, finally, the residents of Atlanta can then unwind, save time and money while enjoying their shining house. All of the cleaners are interviewed and are proven to pass the national background check, and only 10% of interviewed cleaners make the cut.

Maid In Vinings in Atlanta provides residential cleaning services in Atlanta and the nearby areas. Their services are designed to assist in the routine maintenance of a clean and healthy house. The team offers a variety of cleaning services to meet the demands of each client, ranging from flat-rate cleaning packages such as standard and deep cleanings to hourly cleaning services.

The house cleaning service in atlanta offers flat rate packages that include a single charge for cleaning a whole property. The cost is determined by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in a property, as well as jobs from a standardized cleaning checklist curated just for the service. These packages are based on the client’s home being of average size and cleanliness.

Flat rate packages are ideal for clients who want to know exactly how much something will cost before they buy it. They also provide a variety of extras that can be added to the reservation for an additional fee, such as Inside the Fridge, Inside the Oven, Inside Cabinets, and Load of Laundry, to name a few.

Regarding the company’s office cleaning services, the representative for Maid In Vinings had this to say, “Though our primary focus is residential cleaning, we’re happy to support small businesses with regular office cleaning as well. We’ll clean and sanitize your offices, including reception, lobbies, waiting rooms, kitchens, work areas, and of course, bathrooms. If you’ve got an office that needs regular cleaning, get in touch with us for a quote.”

Booking recurring services with Maid in Vinings features various perks, including a discount on all subsequent cleaning sessions. The discount is determined by how often the client wants the cleaner to come to their home. Weekly cleanings receive a 20% discount, biweekly cleanings receive a 15% discount (the most popular), and monthly cleanings receive a 10% discount.

To learn more about Maid In Vinings, visit their office located at 3205 Cumberland Blvd SE Unit 401, Atlanta, GA, 30339, US. Contact them via phone at 678-666-4576. For more information, visit the cleaning company’s website.

Media Contact

Company Name
Maid In Vinings
Contact Name
Maid In Vinings
Phone
678-666-4576
Address
3205 Cumberland Blvd SE Unit 401
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Postal Code
30339
Country
United States
Website
https://maidinvinings.com/

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Confirmation that a wild duck (Northern shoveler) harvested by a hunter in Hyde County tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has prompted biologists at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to remind hunters to follow best practices when handling waterfowl after harvest.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the positive detection to stakeholders yesterday, along with the announcement of a second wild duck confirmed to have HPAI in Colleton County, South Carolina since Jan. 14. All three findings are H5N1 HPAI. These are the first wild birds in the United States to have Eurasian H5 HPAI since 2016. The positive samples were collected by USDA as part of their ongoing surveillance program for early detection of HPAI in collaboration with state wildlife agencies.  The North Carolina positive sample was collected on Dec. 30, 2021.

These positive detections in wild waterfowl are not unexpected, as they can be infected with HPAI and show no signs of illness. They can then carry the disease to new areas through fecal material or oral discharges when migrating.

This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but it can be dangerous to other birds, including commercial and backyard flocks of poultry.

Officials at the Wildlife Commission recommend that hunters take these extra precautions offered by the USDA to protect themselves:

• Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead.
• Wear rubber gloves when handling birds, cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game.
• Dress your game birds in the field whenever possible. If you must dress your birds at home, clean them in an area separate from your poultry and pet birds.
• Double bag the inedible parts of the bird and feathers. Tie the inner bag and include your rubber gloves and leave them in the outer bag before tying it closed.
• Wash hands with soap and water immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol wipes.
• Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and water. Then, disinfect them.
• Avoid cross-contamination. Keep uncooked game in a separate container, away from cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
• Cook game meat thoroughly; poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill disease organisms and parasites.

“If someone comes across a mortality event involving five or more waterbirds or waterfowl, or a mortality event of any size for raptors or avian scavengers, including crows, ravens and gulls, we want to know about them,” stated Joe Fuller, wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Commission. “We are also interested in morbidity events involving any number of those same bird species that are observed with clinical signs consistent with neurological impairment, like swimming in circles, head tilt and lack of coordination.”

The public is encouraged to direct wild bird reports as described by Fuller to the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or email [email protected], or call USDA at 866-536-7593.

Sick or dying captive birds should be reported to your local veterinarian, the NCDACS Veterinary Division, 919-707-3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, 919-733-3986. For more information on HPAI, visit the NCDACS website at http://www.ncagr.gov/avianflu/.

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Originally Appeared Here