Four More People Tested Presumptively Positive For Avian Influenza

Yesterday, the Washington State Department of Health reported 4 individuals who are agricultural workers are presumed to have contracted avian influenza (H5N1) after working with infected poultry at a commercial egg farm in the state’s Franklin County. In terms of their conditions, the state’s department of health reports all the individuals had mild symptoms and have been provided with antiviral medication. The cases took place at a single farm that was the site of an avian influenza outbreak in chickens. Approximatel 800,000 birds were euthanized after test results by the Washington State Department of Agriculture on October 15 showed that they were infected with avian influenza.

“Washington has monitored the spread of H5N1 closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022, and our state is prepared with the knowledge, relationships, and tools to minimize its impacts on our community,” Washington Secretary of Health Umair Shah, MD, MPH, said in a statement.

The Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD) conducted health checks of exposed workers and coordinated testing at the Washington State Public Health Lab. The samples have been forwarded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for final confirmation and analysis of the virus.

Benton-Frankin Health District and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) are working with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the CDC on the regional response to this outbreak. DOH and BFHD have provided personal protective equipment to workers on the farm, are monitoring exposed workers for symptoms of avian influenza, and are providing testing, vaccines, and treatment for symptomatic workers.

The DOH has worked in partnership with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to respond to detections of H5N1 in animals in the state, and to monitor the health of people exposed to infected animals. The DOH has worked with these animal health partners to distribute personal protective equipment and informational materials to dairy and poultry farmers.

There have been a smattering of avian influenza cases throughout the US, and the common thread has been farm or agricultural workers who have been in close proximity to infected cows or birds.

The state’s department of health announced that for any employees or contractors who may have worked on a poultry farm in Benton or Franklin counties since October 7 should contact BFHD at 509-460-4550 if they have symptoms such as red eyes or respiratory infections.

Reference
First presumed human infections of avian influenza under investigation in Washington state. Washington State Department of Health. October 20, 2024. Accessed October 21, 2024.
https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/first-presumed-human-infections-avian-influenza-under-investigation-washington-state#:~:text=OLYMPIA%20%E2%80%93%20Four%20agricultural%20workers%20tested,been%20provided%20with%20antiviral%20medication.