Assessment of Knowledge and Biosecurity Practices Related to Avian Influenza Among Poultry Workers in a District of South India.

CONTEXT: Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a contagious disease that affects both animals and humans, posing a significant threat to public health, animal welfare, and the economy. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge of avian influenza among poultry farmworkers and evaluate the biosecurity practices implemented on their farms.

OBJECTIVE: The study's primary objective was to assess the knowledge regarding avian influenza among poultry farmworkers and the biosecurity practices they follow at the farm.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: The study was conducted in a district of South India.

PARTICIPANTS: This study included 105 poultry farmworkers across 70 poultry farms in the district.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment of the participants' knowledge related to avian influenza, and the association between knowledge levels, demographic, and farm-related factors such as working experience in the poultry farm, type of poultry farm, type of poultry reared, and biosecurity practices.

RESULTS: In the study, 90% of participants were aware of avian influenza, with 36% correctly identifying the virus as its cause, whereas 5% wrongly cited it to be a bacteria. Although 90% knew avian influenza was infectious, only 18% recognized its potential transmission to humans; however, 82% understood prevention methods. Participants with an education level beyond high school displayed significantly higher awareness (P < .05), emphasizing importance of the education.

CONCLUSIONS: The study showed diverse awareness levels among poultry farmworkers regarding avian influenza, emphasizing gaps in the knowledge, particularly about its transmission to humans. This underscores the need for targeted awareness campaigns focusing on zoonotic risks to improve the level of understanding and implement effective preventive measures against avian influenza.