Personal Protective Equipment for Influenza A(H5N1) in High-Risk Farm Settings: Proceedings of a Workshop

What approaches can ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed and implemented in ways that effectively protect farmworkers and mitigate the risk of Influenza A (H5N1) transmission from animals to humans?

In September 2025, the National Academies convened a workshop to examine the role of personal protective equipment in high-risk farm settings, bringing together public health officials, academic researchers, PPE innovators, producers, veterinarians, occupational health and safety experts, and farmworker advocates, among many others, to assess current evidence and on-the-ground realities surrounding risk and exposure. Discussions explored what is known - and what remains uncertain - about H5N1 transmission, practical and systemic barriers to PPE access and use, the implications for PPE use in diverse agricultural settings, and the ways in which risk perception, training, trust, and working conditions shape adoption. Participants shared lessons from recent outbreak responses and highlighted the importance of tailoring protective strategies to task-specific risks, environmental conditions, and farm-level operations. This Proceedings of a Workshop summarizes presentations and discussions that took place during the event.