What Providers Need to Know about Zoonotic Influenza

Webinar

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Free Continuing Education

Overview

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to emphasize the importance of ongoing surveillance to detect human infections with novel influenza A viruses, including highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. A(H5N1) viruses continue to spread among wild birds and poultry in the United States and many regions of the world. Surveillance can also identify human infections with swine influenza A viruses, which are referred to as variant influenza A virus infections. These sporadic infections typically occur during the summer and early fall after exposures to pigs at agricultural fairs. Given the pandemic risk posed by novel influenza A virus infections, healthcare providers should remain alert to the possibility of human infections with influenza viruses that can spread between animals and people.

During this COCA call, presenters will give a comprehensive overview of novel influenza A viruses, focused on avian influenza A(H5N1) virus and variant influenza viruses. They will discuss CDC's guidance for clinicians on testing, specimen collection, and antiviral treatment for people with suspected or confirmed infections. Presenters will also address patient exposure histories and review questions to ask patients to help guide clinical diagnosis and testing for novel influenza A virus infections.

Presenters

Charles (Todd) Davis, PhD, MSPH
Deputy Branch Chief for Science
Influenza Division
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Tim Uyeki, MD, MPH, MPP
Chief Medical Officer
Influenza Division
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Call Objectives

COCA Call Objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to accomplish the following:

1. Cite background information on the topic covered during the presentation.
2. Discuss CDC's role in the topic covered during the presentation.
3. Describe the topic's implications for clinicians.
4. Discuss concerns and/or issues related to preparedness for and/or response to urgent public health threats.
5. Promote health improvement, wellness, and disease prevention in cooperation with patients, communities, at-risk populations, and other members of an interprofessional team of healthcare providers.

Activity-specific Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to accomplish the following:

1. Discuss the current situation of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus and variant influenza A viruses in the United States and worldwide, including the epidemiology of human infections with H5N1 viruses and other avian influenza A viruses.
2. Describe diagnostic testing for novel influenza A viruses, limitations of commercially available influenza diagnostic tests, and recommended antiviral treatment for novel influenza A virus infections.
3. Provide updates on current animal outbreaks.
4. Discuss CDC's surveillance and detection of novel influenza A virus infections in people.
5. Review clinical considerations and best practices for managing patients with novel influenza A virus infections.

Additional Resources

Technical Report

• Technical Report: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses (cdc.gov)
• Addendum to Technical Report: Addendum to Technical Report: Human Infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in Chile (cdc.gov)

Bird Flu

• H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation Summary | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Avian Influenza in Birds | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Bird Flu in Pets and Other Animals | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)

Human infections with variant influenza A viruses

• What Causes Bird Flu Virus Infections in Humans
• Bird Flu in Animals and People: Causes and How It Spreads
• Past Examples of Probable Limited, Non-Sustained, Person-to-Person Spread of Avian Influenza A Viruses
• Reported Human Infections with Avian Influenza A Viruses
• About Swine/Variant Flu

Bird Flu Prevention & Recommendations for Specific Groups

• Prevention and Antiviral Treatment of Bird Flu Viruses in People | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Backyard Flock Owners: Take Steps to Protect Yourself from Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Information for People Exposed to Birds Infected with Avian Influenza Viruses | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance for Employers to Reduce the Risk of Novel Influenza A for People Working with or Exposed to Animals | Bird Flu | CDC
• Self-Observation for Illness for Responders to Poultry Outbreaks of Avian Influenza | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)

Healthcare and Laboratorian Guidance

• Case Definitions for Investigations of Human Infection with Avian Influenza A Viruses in the United States (cdc.gov)
• Testing, Reporting & Lab Information | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance on Testing and Specimen Collection for Patients with Suspected Infection with Novel Influenza A Viruses with the Potential to Cause Severe Disease in Humans | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Brief Summary for Clinicians: Evaluating and Managing Patients Exposed to Birds Infected with Avian Influenza A Viruses of Public Health Concern | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance on the Use of Antiviral Medications for Treatment of Human Infections with Novel Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Human Disease | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance on Influenza Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis of Persons Exposed to Birds with Avian Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Human Disease or with the Potential to Cause Severe Human Disease | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance on Follow-up of Close Contacts of Persons Infected with Novel Influenza A Viruses and Use of Antiviral Medications for Chemoprophylaxis | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance for Follow-up of Close Contacts of Persons Infected with Novel Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Human Disease or with Potential to Cause Severe Human Disease, and Use of Antiviral Medications for Post-exposure Prophylaxis | Bird Flu | CDC

Bird Flu Communication Resources

• How Infected Backyard Poultry Could Spread Bird Flu to People (cdc.gov)
• What To Know About Bird Flu (cdc.gov)
  

Continuing Education

To receive continuing education (CE) for WD4520-062023 – Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Calls/Webinars – What Providers Need to Know about Zoonotic Influenza, please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using WD4520-062023. Follow the steps below by July 25, 2025.

1. Register for and complete the course.
2. Pass the post-assessment at 80%.
3. Complete the evaluation.
4. Visit Your Learning to access your certificates and transcript.

In support of improving patient care, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CME: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPA CME: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 12/13/2023. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this activity for 1 nursing contact hours.

CPE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated this (Knowledge-based) event for pharmacists to receive 0.1 CEUs in pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number is JA4008229-0000-23-033-L04-P and enduring is JA4008229-0000-23-034-H04-P.

Once credit is claimed, an unofficial statement of credit is immediately available on CDC TRAIN. Official credit will be uploaded within 60 days on the NABP/CPE Monitor.

CEU: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEU's for this program.

CECH: Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES^®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES^®) to receive up to 1.0 total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced level continuing education contact hours available are 1. Continuing Competency credits available are 1. CDC provider number 98614.

AAVSB/RACE: This program was reviewed and approved by the AAVSB RACE program for 1.0 hours of continuing education. Participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Please contact the AAVSB RACE program at race@aavsb.org if you have any comments/concerns regarding this program's validity or relevancy to the veterinary profession.

For Certified Public Health Professionals (CPH): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a pre-approved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits and is authorized to offer 1 CPH recertification credits for this program.

DISCLOSURE: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all planners and presenters must disclose all financial relationships, in any amount, with ineligible companies over the previous 24 months as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or products under investigational use.

CDC, our planners, and presenters wish to disclose they have no financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Content will not include any discussion of the unlabeled use of a product or a product under investigational use.

CDC did not accept financial or in-kind support from ineligible companies for this continuing education activity.

Fees: No fees are charged for CDC's CE activities.

Target Audience

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Veterinarians
• Physician Assistants
• Health Educators
• Other Clinicians

Additional Information

• Contact Information: coca@cdc.gov
• Support/Funding: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emergency Risk Communication Branch
• Method of Participation: You may participate in the educational activity by viewing the program information above.