Salem: Health authorities in Oregon have confirmed three human cases of bird flu involving individuals from Washington state who were exposed to infected poultry. The virus has led to a total of 39 confirmed cases across the U.S. this year, including nine in Washington, as it continues to impact poultry flocks and has spread to over 400 dairy herds, according to federal data. All affected individuals were farm workers with known contact with infected animals, except for one case reported in Missouri.
The Washington State Department of Health revealed that the individuals worked on a chicken farm where birds were culled to contain the virus. They were involved in cleaning facilities after the culling process. Health officials tested these workers for symptoms such as red eyes and respiratory issues, focusing on those with potential exposure to the infected birds. Those displaying symptoms were instructed to isolate and were provided antiviral treatment.
Oregon identified the three cases after the individuals traveled to the state while infected. They have since returned to Washington, where public health officials are closely monitoring their health status. Fortunately, there have been no reported infections among Oregon residents, and there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The Oregon Health Authority maintains that the risk of infection to the general public remains low.
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Since 2022, the ongoing bird flu outbreak has resulted in the deaths of more than 100 million poultry birds, marking the worst outbreak in U.S. history. Recently, the H5N1 bird flu was also confirmed in a pig on a backyard farm in Oregon, representing the first detection of the virus in swine in the United States, as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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