This time of year it’s tempting to put out bird feeders for your sweet neighborly birds to visit.  

Dr. Kip Thompson, associate professor of public health and sports medicine at Missouri State University, recommends waiting until warmer months. 

Avian flu, specifically the highly pathogenic strain of H5N1, has been sweeping across the United States and around the world. The first cases showed up last November and have only been increasing. 

Summertime should hopefully bring an end to the avian influenza outbreak, noted Thompson. It is similar in many ways to the influenza humans contract, which also tends to die down in time for summer. 

How commercial poultry is affected 

Poultry farms are suffering because of these outbreaks. 

“This year has been especially bad. We’ve lost a lot of commercial poultry,” Thompson said. 

“The rising prices of eggs and chicken are surprisingly not from COVID-19. It’s primarily because we are having to cull millions and millions of chickens.” 

Culling is a term used for removing chickens (or other birds) from the population. It’s necessary when a bird has been exposed.  

Because H5N1 is so contagious, it is important to separate the bird as soon as possible. 

Are humans in any danger? 

Though highly unlikely, it is possible for humans to contract avian influenza.  

“It’s almost always occupational in the U.S.,” Thompson said.   

“For underdeveloped countries, poultry is typically kept near the house, if not inside, at nighttime — for protection. This increases the chances of humans contracting the H5N1 strain from their birds.” 

If you don’t work at a poultry farm handling birds all day, then it is almost impossible for you to contract avian influenza, he added.  

For those with a small number of chickens in their yard, do your best to keep wild birds away from your flock. This can be done by ensuring the holes in your coop aren’t wide enough for any other birds to come through. 

Explore degrees in public health 

A few years ago, while adjusting the curriculum for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Missouri State University, faculty and staff identified a need in the Springfield community. 

A large portion of the Springfield population was uninsured and not able to receive the treatment they needed.  

In response, the PT department created a pro bono clinic for patients without insurance or patients lacking insurance coverage for physical therapy services.  

More than physical therapy 

During patients’ visits, social work students meet with patients to help with other needs. 

“When you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, people need shelter, food and water. And when they don’t have those things, it’s hard to focus on PT,” said Wendy Jackson, clinical instructor in the School of Social Work.  

“We try to help with all of those needs while they are here receiving treatment.” 

How the clinic operates 

The free clinic offers:  

• Neurological services. 
• Joint care. 
• Posture and spine programs. 

“We are fortunate enough to have state-of-the-art equipment to provide quality care to every patient,” said Dr. Jeanne Cook, head of the physical therapy department. 

Students in the PT program evaluate and work with patients under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.  

“Our students are able to work every week in our clinic and gain real on-the-job experience,” said Cook. “They end up working over 1,000 clinical hours before starting their clinical courses.”

 Learn more about the clinic

With a focus on public affairs and diversity, Missouri State University has become a member of the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network.

The network includes colleges and universities around the world that have:

• Endorsed the 10 AFU principles. This includes involving older adults in educational programs and research; promoting and supporting second career and personal development; promoting intergenerational learning; and widening access to online educational opportunities.
• Committed themselves to meeting and serving the needs of aging populations.

Missouri State is the first public university in Missouri to join this network.

According to Missouri State Provost Dr. Frank Einhellig, the university has made efforts over many years to ensure the campus is welcoming and comfortable to individuals of all ages.

“Our membership in this network strengthens our commitment to lifelong learning. Our hope is to increase intergenerational interaction on our campus, which will help shrink the generation gap and dispel age-related stereotypes in our community,” Einhellig said.

How MSU supports students of all ages

Missouri State has several programs and initiatives that show its commitment to AFU principles.

Adult Students Services supports people starting college at age 21 or older and those juggling school, work and family. MSU 62 allows Missouri residents ages 62+ to enroll, tuition free, in one course per semester.

The gerontology program has been at MSU for over four decades. It offers the only Bachelor of Science in Gerontology in the state, as well as a minor, and soon, an undergraduate certificate. The program is the first in the nation certified as a program of merit through the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE).

In addition, the university’s culture recognizes age as an element of diversity in its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and programming.

“Being a member of the AFU Global Network provides many resources and opportunities for MSU to explore ways to further bolster our existing age-friendly infrastructure,” said MSU Gerontology Program Coordinator Dr. Lisa Hall.

By doing this, MSU can:

• Increase its enrollment of students aged 22 and above.
• Better support non-traditional students who are already enrolled.
• Enrich traditional students’ educational and interactional experiences by having an intergenerational student body.
• Strengthen its retirement planning, and nurture faculty and staff through the retirement transition and beyond.
• Graduate even more students who have awareness of the aging process and empathy for those in late life.

“All these benefits have a ripple effect and therefore the potential to increase intergenerational civility in the workplace and in politics, and even to decrease chronic disease and long-term care costs,” Hall added.

More about the AFU Global Network

In 2012, then Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Dr. Brian MacCraith of Dublin City University launched the network.

AGHE endorses the AFU principles. Joining the AFU AGHE network of global partners offers institutions the opportunity to learn about emerging age-friendly efforts and to contribute to an educational movement of social, personal and economic benefit to students of all ages and institutions of higher education alike.