How to Request Personal Protective Equipmentā (PPE) for Farmworkers to Protect Against Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) ā also known as Bird Flu
As recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to protect against bird flu, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are working together to support distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE). Distribution is available for dairy farmworkers and others who handle raw milk, slaughterhouse and poultry farm workers, and animal/wildlife care centers. Dairies, poultry farms, organizations that serve workers at-risk of bird flu or some entities that provide care to sick animals can order a one-time supply of PPE, including the following:
- Goggles
- Face Shields
- Respirators (Disposable N95 Respirators or Powered Air Purifying Respirators [PAPRs], NIOSH-Approved)
- Gloves
- Bouffant caps
Organizations that can order include:
- All dairy farms regardless of infection/quarantine status or participation in prior CDPH PPE distributions.
- Poultry farms-limited to farms that have not yet directly ordered PPE through CDPH in 2024.
- Bird and wildlife care centers, sanctuaries, rehabilitation centers, and rescues.ā
- Requests for PPE made by organizations that serve farmworker populations will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Veterinarians and care staff working with directly with animals in following settings:
- Bird and wildlife care centers, sanctuaries, rehabilitation centers, and rescues.
- Animal shelters and adoption centers with animals.
- Food animal/large animal medicine or wildlife/zoological medicine.
Follow these four steps to request PPE from local or state public health stockpiles to protect farmworkers againāāst bird flu:
Please refer to the following informational reference documents to help identify the PPE you would like to order:
Voluntary use of a respirator is acceptable when there are no confirmed occupational exposures to bird flu or other ATD-Zoonotic diseases. Respirator use should be in the context of the employerās respiratory protection program in accordance with the
CalOSHA Respiratory Protection and
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) List of Consultants Who Provide Respirator Fit Testing Services. To find a consultant in your area, use this link, type in your zip code, and select specialty āRespiratory Protection.ā
-
When and Why to Wear a Mask has more information about how to voluntarily use an N95 respirator and other masks, with information about the importance of fit and filtration.
Step 1 - Identify the need:
- Do you have dairy farmworkers or others who handle raw milk, slaughterhouse workers, and/or poultry farm workers at your facility? Do you care for sick dairy cows or sick birds?
- How many employees are in regular contact with farm animals, milk, egg products, or sick animalsā at your facility?
- How many of the above PPE items would you need to protect your employees for 30 days?
Step 2 ā Order supplies:
To place your PPE order, please have one representative from your farm reach out to your local Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC). The contact list for the MHOAC program is here:
Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) system (PDF). Please also reach out to your local
public health department if you have any questions or concerns about bird flu. āāāāāāāāFor āādairy āfarms, poultry farms, āand animal/wildlife care centers, CDPH will āsupport with direct shipments of limited PPE āāuntil March 1, 2025.āāāāāāāāāā
NOTE: PPE is intended for immediate use and protection to give time to facilities to obtain and distribute their own PPE. PPE cannot be returned to CDPH.
Step 3 ā Provide the following information to the MHOAC program:
- Name and shipping address for your facility.
- Number of employees in need of PPE at your facility.
- Total amount of PPE needed to protect your employees for 30 days:
- Number of goggles
- Number of face shields
- Number of PAPRs
- Number of N95s
- Number of gloves
- Number of bouffant caps
- Contact information including phone and email.
Step 4 ā Stay in contact with your MHOAC
Let them know once you have received your PPE. Immediately advise the MHOAC if you have further needs and/or potential issues relating to bird flu.