OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that two people who had presumptive positive tests run by the Washington State Department of Health (WA-DOH) have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) after an outbreak at a commercial poultry farm in Franklin County (WA).
The CDC says confirmatory test results on two other samples are pending.
WA-DOH, Benton-Franklin Heath District (BFHD) and the CDC have staff on site in Franklin County who are investigating exposures to workers and testing workers.
Testing initially occurs at the Washington State Public Health Laboratory. Any presumptive positive test samples at the State Public Health Laboratory are sent to CDC for confirmation. Until the CDC confirms a positive result, it is considered presumptive positive.
There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission at this time. All the identified infections are among workers who had contact with infected birds or their environments and the CDC says no patients have experienced severe illness or been hospitalized.
The CDC currently considers the risk to the public from avian influenza to be low. However, people with job-related or recreational exposures to infected birds, cattle, or other potentially infected domestic or wild animals are at higher risk and should take precautions, including wearing PPE such as masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection.
WA-DOH, BFHD and additional partners are providing personal protective equipment (PPE), outreach and education for the workers, and the community. Medications for exposed workers and seasonal influenza vaccines are also being offered to workers.
The CDC says seasonal influenza vaccines do not protect against avian influenza infection, but they make it less likely that a person could get coinfected with both seasonal influenza and avian influenza at the same time.
Coinfection increases the risk that a strain of avian influenza virus could arise that spreads easily from person to person. WA-DOH recommends the seasonal influenza vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older and they are also supporting efforts to make vaccines more available for agricultural workers across the state.
Any employees or contractors who may have worked on a poultry farm in Benton or Franklin counties since October 7, 2024, should contact BFHD at 509-460-4550 if they have symptoms, such as red eyes, feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, or other influenza-like illness.
Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza Type A viruses that naturally occur in wild aquatic birds throughout the world. On rare occasions, avian influenza viruses infect people and make them sick. Most instances of people becoming infected with avian influenza have happened after prolonged, close contact with animals infected with avian influenza or environments contaminated with avian influenza.
People with backyard poultry should report any sick or dead birds to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) at 1-800-606-3056 or report sick domestic birds online. Veterinarians should report sick or dead domestic animals or livestock suspected of having avian influenza to WSDA.
WA-DOH reminds the community to never handle or allow pets near dead birds or other wildlife. For more information on safety precautions, visit the WA-DOH website.
