Bird flu infects four in Washington state; CDC deploys team
Bird flu has possibly infected four agricultural workers in Washington state, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
In a press release Sunday, the Washington State Department of Health said the “workers tested presumptively positive for avian influenza after working with infected poultry at a commercial egg farm in Franklin County.” Franklin County is in the eastern half of the Evergreen State, which is known for its agriculture.
According to the health department, those possibly infected went through “mild symptoms and have been provided with antiviral medication,” and that the potential infections “are the first presumed human cases of H5 virus under investigation in Washington state.”
“Testing of additional individuals on the farm is currently pending, and the number of cases under investigation may change,” the health department said in the release.
The health department also said that “[t]he cases took place at a farm that was the site of an avian influenza outbreak in chickens.”
A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an emailed statement sent to The Hill on Tuesday that they are waiting on “specimens for avian flu testing from Washington state, and a team is being deployed to support the state’s assessment of the health of workers involved in a depopulation event at a poultry facility there.”
This year, there have been “27 H5 human cases reported in the US,” according to the CDC. Bird flu commonly spreads in birds as well as other animals. However, it can infect humans if they come in contact with body fluid from an infected animal.
“While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures,” the agency said on their website.
Date: |
Topics
-
Top stories - NBC News
Bird flu suspected in four Washington farm workers, CDC sends team
18 hours ago -
Top stories - NBC News
Bird flu cases in people quietly tick up, with dozens reported across 6 states
5 hours ago -
Business - Inc.
Five Possible Bird Flu Cases Found in California
October 15 - California -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
The four NFC North teams are the top four teams in the NFL by point differential
October 14 - NFL -
Sports - CBS Sports
Sue Bird, Maya Moore among four WNBA players next in line to make the Basketball Hall of Fame
October 14 - WNBA -
Politics - The Hill
Navy jet crashes in Washington state; crew members missing
6 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
Navy identifies 2 female pilots killed in Washington state crash
Yesterday -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
Washington Wizards 2024-25 season preview: A lottery team with a long rebuild ahead
6 days ago
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Tulsi Gabbard says she's joining the GOP at Trump rally in North Carolina
1 hour ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Sanders leads call for DOJ to investigate Israeli attack on journalists
2 hours ago - Israel -
Politics - The Hill
John Kelly says Trump praised 'Hitler's generals' for loyalty
3 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Yelp turns off comments on McDonald's where Trump worked after fake reviews
4 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Harris addresses sexism, abortion, pardoning Trump in NBC interview
4 hours ago - Donald Trump
Latest in Politics
-
Politics - NBC News
Obama urges young men not to give up on the political process in new podcast with NBA players
48 minutes ago - NBA -
Politics - The Hill
Tulsi Gabbard says she's joining the GOP at Trump rally in North Carolina
1 hour ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Sanders leads call for DOJ to investigate Israeli attack on journalists
2 hours ago - Israel -
Politics - NBC News
Former White House chief of staff John Kelly says Trump meets the definition of a 'fascist'
2 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - NBC News
For the second time in a day, Trump resorts to false personal attacks on Harris
2 hours ago - Donald Trump