Biosecurity Not Just For Livestock

Most livestock producers are very aware of the importance of maintaining strong biosecurity practices to keep diseases from infecting their herds or birds. But one expert said that with all that's going on the to conoravirus all farmers should take biosecurity measures to keep their workers healthy and safe.

"Part of that is to limit farm access. We don't want people on our farms who shouldn't be on our farm."

And the University of Minnesota's  Dr. Jeff Bender said among those people who should not be on the farm, those farm workers who are sick.

"If we're sick, we need to stay home. Even if we have mild symptoms, asymptomatic folks, or folks with mild symptoms may transmit this virus. The other is to wash your hands frequently and to use hand sanitizer if we can't wash our hands frequently."

He said people working on the farm should keep as much distance between each other as possible. Dr. Bender added doing all of this, though, doesn't totally guarantee the virus won't be transmitted on to the far or from one person to another, but producers should have the goal of limiting the potential of transmission. ​

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