Iowa Bird Flu Outbreak Infection Control
Iowa Bird Flu Outbreak Infection Control
In 2015, an outbreak of avian influenza subtype H5N2 was identified in a series of chicken and turkey farming operations in the Midwestern region of the United States NorthStar Recovery Services was contacted to handle the disposal of the bird carcasses at 13 of these farms.
NorthStar first responders arrived on-site and began developing a tailored plan to dispose of the deceased birds with a primary focus on Biological Security and Infection Control. Decontamination protocols were implemented for both vehicles transporting the infected birds as well as personnel working in and around the contaminated areas. The project was conducted in two phases, the clean-out and decontamination of the farm structures as well as the disposal of the deceased birds. Disposal was conducted via three methods: landfill dumping, incineration, and composting. Decontamination of trucks and their containers was conducted both at the facility where the biological debris was loaded as well as at the dump site to prevent biological contamination during transport. A very rigorous three-part decontamination protocol was implemented to ensure that biological hazards were eliminated prior to each stage of travel.
In total, NorthStar Recovery Services made over 1000 truckload runs–approximately 50 per day– to various disposal sites. By the end of the project, over 13 million chicken and turkey carcasses had been removed and disposed of. A workforce of over 350 Hazwoper trained laborers was employed throughout the project, with zero safety incidents or OSHA recordable injuries. NorthStar worked closely with the EPA & USDA and exceeded protocols for Biological Security, ultimately resulting in a 100% safe and efficient recovery process.
