VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR STAFF MEMBERS OF ZOO

• Hands should be washed frequently especially after handling the animal, its food, bedding, enclosure materials, excrement and / or tissue and body fluids.
• Cages should be cleaned so as to minimize the risk of creating aerosols or droplets of potentially infectious materials. Wearing protective clothing, especially masks, gloves and glasses or goggles.
• The staff should be instructed to engage in proper personnel hygiene procedures in and out of the workplace.
• Staff members who are ill with a cold and or having a cold sore should avoid working around the animals.
• If staff members get sick they should seek medical attention.
• A baseline serum sample should be collected from all personnel working with animals for periodical screening for infectious diseases.
• Staff members should take precautions to avoid any physical injury in handling them.
• An effective means for handling, reporting, evaluating and treating occupational exposures to possible zoonotic infections should be developed for the institution.
• Individuals with a known immuno deficiency diseases should be extremely cautious in working with potentially infected animals or materials.
• An active insect and rodent control program should be instituted in the facility.
• Personnel who have open cuts or sores on their hands should wear gloves while working around animals and their faeces.