Recent cases of avian flu strain H5N8 found in chicken flocks in Oregon, California and Washington have emphasized why disposable gloves are a necessity in the food processing industry.
According The Wall Street Journal, these cases became evident in December 2014 and have led China to ban all imports of poultry and eggs from the U.S. Furthermore, many other countries have implemented similar bans on the U.S. as a whole or only from certain states.
These bans indicate how dangerous the virus is, which is why food processing workers should wear gloves. This safety practice helps slow the spread of avian flu and helps guard workers against infection. The World Health Organization indicated that while many strains of avian flu do not affect humans, some strains lead to serious infections.
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy stated avian flu outbreaks are present in four continents, which means food processing workers must be diligent while handling domestic and imported foul. Anti-microbial vinyl gloves are useful in this situation, as the glove material disrupts cell walls to prevent microorganism growth on the glove.
