State, CDC Investigating Human HPAI In Washington

“We are confirming that four agricultural workers have tested presumptively positive for avian influenza after working with infected poultry at this commercial egg farm in Franklin County," Washington Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah said this week.  "The individuals have experienced mild symptoms and have been provided with antiviral medication.” 

Shah said it appears the four became infected with HPAI while culling poultry that were suffering from bird flu infection.  Shah added testing of additional individuals on the farm is currently pending and the number of cases under investigation may change.  If the infections are confirmed Washington would be the 6th state to identify human cases this year.

Despite the fluid nature of the investigation, Shah had nothing but praise for local health officials.

"They have done a phenomenal job and continue to do an incredible job in working on the ground on this response," he noted.  "They have conducted health checks of exposed workers and coordinated testing with our Washington State Public Health Laboratory.  The samples have been forwarded to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention for final confirmation and analysis of this virus."

Shah added the CDC currently considers the risk to the general public from the H5N1strain to be low.  However, he stressed, people with jobs related or recreational exposures to infected birds, cattle or other potentially impacted or infected domestic or wild animals are at higher risk and should take precautions; including wearing personal protective equipment and we can describe that in some detail in just a bit.

Prior to the Washington case, 27 people have tested positive for the virus nationwide.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com