Washington Becomes Sixth State to Report Human Bird Flu Infections

Four agricultural workers tested presumptively positive for bird flu after working with infected poultry at a commercial egg farm in Franklin County, Washington.

While these are the first presumed human cases of bird flu in Washington, the state becomes the sixth to now report cases. The infections raise concern among health experts as the virus continues to spread in dairy cows, poultry, and wildlife, increasing risks to humans for the virus to mutate and spread more easily, Reuters reported. As of Oct. 18, excluding the new presumed Washington cases, 27 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu. All available data so far suggests sporadic instances of animal-to-human spread, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

The cases took place at a farm that was the site of a bird flu outbreak in chickens. Like other reported cases, the individuals experienced mild symptoms and have been provided with antiviral medication. Testing of additional individuals on the farm is currently pending CDC confirmation, and the number of cases under investigation may change, the Washington State Department of Health said. County and state health officials have been providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to farm workers; monitoring exposed workers for symptoms; and providing testing, seasonal flu vaccines, and treatment for symptomatic workers.

The CDC currently considers the risk to the public from bird flu to be low; however, people with job-related or recreational exposures to infected birds, cattle, or other potentially impacted domestic or wild animals are at higher risk and should take precautions, including wearing PPE.