Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Oct 21, 2024 13:45:16 GMT -5
Four egg farm workers appear to test positive for bird flu in Washington state
Washington is sixth state to detect H5N1 in workers, with farm in Franklin county source of known outbreak
Jessica Glenza
Mon 21 Oct 2024 09.45 EDT
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Four workers in rural Washington state were presumptively diagnosed with bird flu at an egg farm, officials said Sunday.
Washington is the sixth state to detect what is formally known as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in workers. The farm in southern Franklin county was the source of a known outbreak where workers had already euthanized about 800,000 chickens.
“Washington has monitored the spread of H5N1 closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022,” the state’s secretary of health, Dr Umair Shah, said in a statement. “Our state is prepared with the knowledge, relationships, and tools to minimize its impacts on our community.”
Authorities with the local health district said samples had been sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to confirm the presumptive diagnosis.
The health district said workers’ symptoms have been mild. Anyone local to the area with pink eye, respiratory infections and recent work with chickens has been asked to call the local health district.
There have been 27 known bird flu cases in humans, not including the new diagnoses in Washington, according to the CDC. The federal health authority said the risk to the general public is low.
Most known cases occurred in people with close contact with infected animals.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/21/bird-flu-washington-state
If you own a bird or a chicken as a pet or anything else do not kiss it.
