The Centers for Disease Control states that at this time, Americans are at low risk for contracting the avian flu and the infected hosts carrying the flu have not been found or identified in the United States.  However, as avian flu becomes a global epidemic, the best defense against contracting it includes: 

• washing hands regularly
• avoiding large crowds
• getting vaccinated

1. promoting hand and respiratory hygiene including access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers;
2. establishing or expanding policies that enable employees to work from home with appropriate security and network access to applications;
3. updating sick leave and family and medical leave policies and communicate with employees about the importance of staying away from the workplace if they become ill.