This month’s feature lesson is “Bring Home the Blue, Not the Flu!” It highlights the importance of biosecurity practices when working with animals.

With the recent confirmation of several avian flu cases in Pennsylvania and other Mid-Atlantic States, the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation has several resources available for educators to highlight the importance of biosecurity.

The National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix can be accessed through the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation’s website (https://pfbfriends.com/curriculum-for-the-classroom/). The matrix offers a set of lessons for elementary, middle, and high school students called “Bring Home the Blue. Not the Flu!

In addition to the in-classroom lessons developed by The Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, there is also an online course available free of charge (https://bluenotflu.org/ ).

In addition, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has a fact sheet available on their website (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/dtf-resources/dtf-resources).