Zoonotic Spillover: Avian Influenza

After completing this course, healthcare providers will be able to:

1. Differentiate high-threat avian influenza exposures from routine encounters at the human-animal interface, including dairy cattle, poultry, wild birds, raw milk, and pets.

2. Analyze One Health surveillance and H5 testing pathways, including specimen selection, public-health reporting, and role-appropriate coordination or escalation.

3. Differentiate role-appropriate responsibilities for exposure recognition, diagnostic support, antiviral treatment, medication safety, respiratory care, infection prevention, monitoring, documentation, referral, reporting, and public-health coordination across healthcare professions.

4. Evaluate public-health and patient-counseling measures used to contain avian influenza, including animal-side controls, vaccine readiness, raw-milk counseling, seasonal influenza vaccine limitations, and exposure-prevention practices in healthcare settings.

5. Explain why avian influenza viruses change over time, why currently circulating strains spread poorly between people, and what virologic or epidemiologic changes would increase concern.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) is an emerging clinical and public-health concern that demands timely recognition and coordinated action. This course helps healthcare professionals identify high-risk exposures and presentations, interpret testing limitations, and support appropriate treatment, prophylaxis, infection control, patient counseling, referral, and public-health reporting.

Designed for professionals across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, respiratory care, laboratory services, emergency response, infection prevention, and public health, the course clarifies how each discipline contributes to an effective H5 response within its professional scope.