Clackamas County reports its first human case of bird flu

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — The first known case of human bird flu in Oregon has been identified at a poultry farm in Clackamas County. Health officials say there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low.

According to the CDC, 52 people in the US have been infected with bird flu, including 26 cases in California and 11 in Washington.

Health officials say the virus is found in wild birds migrating along the West Coast, and if they land in a field it can spread to chickens and then to people working on farms.

“People who are at risk of getting this now, or people who work directly with affected animals,” says Dr. Sarah Present, Clackamas County Health Officer. “We have also seen it in dairy cattle. Some people have contracted the disease from the affected herds.”

The symptoms of bird flu are similar to those of the flu, but there is no vaccine against bird flu.

The infected individual and the Clackamas County farm are not being identified, but health officials say the person experienced only mild symptoms and made a full recovery after receiving an antiviral drug. Doctors treated the patient with the antiviral drug oseltamivir, and people in their households were prescribed oseltamivir prophylaxis.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has identified the virus in 150,000 farm birds. Prescott said infected birds must be killed, and that could impact the poultry industry and in turn the cost of eggs at the grocery store.

“I think a lot of the higher egg prices are due to bird flu outbreaks across the country, so that’s something people should be aware of,” she said.

Health officials say when an outbreak occurs, the Oregon Department of Agriculture provides personal protective equipment and training to affected farmworkers to limit exposure.

“The Department of Agriculture has a lot of information on how to ensure you have the right safety equipment to control disease. Otherwise, we strongly recommend that you avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or contact with their feces, or litter,” said Present.

OHA epidemiologists are working with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and CDC to monitor those exposed to animals infected with H5N1 and respond if new symptoms consistent with bird flu develop.

“To reduce the risk of HPAI, people should avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or their feces or waste, and should not drink or eat unpasteurized or raw dairy products such as milk or cheese,” OHA said in a news release. .