Reported 6 months ago
Farmworkers, particularly in dairy farms, face high exposure risks to the bird flu virus, but testing is not reaching them due to lack of resources and barriers like health insurance and paid sick leave. Advocates emphasize the importance of tracking infections among farmworkers to monitor the virus's spread and potential mutations. Efforts to incentivize testing, such as offering $75 per test, are met with skepticism as workers fear economic repercussions if they test positive. Health officials stress the need for education, language-appropriate communication, and protective equipment in agricultural settings to prevent the virus from spreading, especially in states like South Carolina where risks are relatively low but monitoring efforts are in place.
Source: YAHOO