How can infection be prevented?
No vaccine for the prevention of H7N9 infections is currently available. Although both the source of infection and the mode of transmission are uncertain, it is prudent to follow basic hygienic practices to prevent infection. They include hand and respiratory hygiene and food safety measures.
Hand hygiene:
- Wash your hands before, during, and after preparing food; before eating; after using the toilet; after handling animals or animal waste; when the hands are dirty; and when providing care when someone in your home is sick.
- Wash hands with soap and running water when visibly dirty; if not visibly dirty, wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
Respiratory hygiene:
Cover your mouth and nose with a medical mask, tissue, or a sleeve or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing; throw the used tissue into a closed bin immediately after use; perform hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions.
Food safety:
It is safe to eat properly prepared and cooked meat, including from poultry and game birds. Diseased animals and animals that have died of diseases should not be eaten. The consumption of raw meat and uncooked blood-based dishes is a high-risk practice and should be discouraged.
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