Hearing about these sick birds is devastating, especially as someone who answers "birds" when asked if they prefer cats or dogs. 🦜

So to end on a bit of a lighter note, I will share a picture of my favorite bird - my own (!!) Charles is a sulfur-crested cockatoo & loves to sing. ❤️ (6/6)

Here on the South Shore, more than 60 dead birds were removed this weekend alone. Read Plymouth's press release here: www.plymouth-ma.gov/DocumentCent...

It is rare for avian flu to infect humans. It is still important to take precautions, especially if you own backyard poultry. (5/6)

🐈 Keep pets safe: Cats are highly susceptible to HPAI and may die from an infection. Cat owners in affected areas of MA should keep their pets indoors to prevent them from being exposed to infected wildlife. (4/6)

🐓 Reporting domestic birds: The public should report sick or dead poultry or other domestic birds in MA by calling MDAR’s Division of Animal Health at (617) 626-1795. (3/6)

🪿 Reporting wild birds: The public should report observations of sick or deceased birds if 5 or more birds are found at a single location in MA at mass.gov/reportbirds. (2/6)

Thank you! I will now definitely post a completed pic - right now it's just a few rows in and hard to see the pattern. We all need a little joy right now 🥲

Yes! This would be amazing. I will send you a DM 📨

MA local epis are usually working with a handful of towns. If each town has different (or absent) data sharing & suppression guidelines, it makes our work really challenging.

That's why we're reaching out to other epis across the US. Please tell us how you're doing it! Replies & DMs are open 🎤(4/4)

The state says it's up to local towns to decide their data suppression and sharing guidelines. Towns aren't really sure what these guidelines should be - especially small ones.

We envision developing a local and regional protocol that can be presented as an option to smaller towns here in MA. (3/4)

Why are we doing this? MA is probably the most decentralized local public health system in the US. In my work, I serve towns with populations greater than 65,000 & other towns that barely cross 2,000 people. I also know an epi serving a town with <100 people.

Here's where it gets tricky:
(2/4)

Love this idea! I started a new crochet project - a baby blanket for a friend 🧶

Some other local epis I know have talked about a few resources, but none are as vast as what you get in academia or at the state/federal level.

Research isn't impossible, it just requires a little more leg work.

Any tips and tricks are very much welcome 🫡🔎

Reaching out to school nurses is my priority, since kids/teens have ⬆️ incidence.

Also, touching base with local providers when conducting disease surveillance to ensure this is on their radar - ESPECIALLY encouraging DTaP & Tdap vaccination.

Respiratory illness season is upon us, folks!

Always ensure meats and fish are being cooked to temperature‼️

With the holidays around the corner, foodborne illness prevention is key!

It doesn't take much to get sick - just a few germs can get you ill. Using a food thermometer is an easy and quick way to help keep your food safe! 🌡

#episky

You can call the USDA meat and poultry hotline & ask to be sent a thermometer: (888) 674-6854

You can also request one online by completing this form & emailing it in: www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/defaul...

They also offer informational material on their website: foodsafety.gov

#episky