Oregon’s first human case of avian influenza reported by health officials

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/or...avian-influenza-reported-by-health-officials/

Oregon’s first human case of avian influenza reported by health officials
by: Kaitlin Flanigan
Posted: Nov 15, 2024 / 12:31 PM PST
Updated: Nov 15, 2024 / 12:37 PM PST


PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The first human case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in Oregon has been confirmed, health officials announced on Friday.

The person infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, was linked to a Clackamas County commercial poultry operation, where the Oregon Department of Agriculture had already confirmed the virus was in 150,000 birds, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

Officials said there is currently no evidence of person-to-person transmission of HPAI and added “the risk to the public is low.”​...

 

[sharon sanders]

November 15, 2024

Media contacts:

• Jonathan Modie, OHA, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov
• Todd Loggan, Clackamas County, PIO@clackamas.us

Oregon confirms first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza


Affected individual linked to commercial poultry operation in Clackamas County where Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed virus in 150,000 birds

PORTLAND, Ore.—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a person linked to a previously reported outbreak affecting birds at a commercial poultry operation in Clackamas County.

Health officials are not providing additional details about the individual, naming the operation, and will not be providing specific location information to protect privacy. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low.

“Clackamas County Public Health Division has been closely monitoring people exposed to the animal outbreak, which is how this case was identified. The individual experienced only mild illness and has fully recovered,” said Clackamas County Public Health Officer Sarah Present, M.D. The person received treatment with the antiviral medication oseltamivir, and household contacts were prescribed oseltamivir prophylaxis.

Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at Oregon Health Authority (OHA), said, “We continue to remind the public that people at increased risk of infection are those who have had close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals, or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals.”

OHA epidemiologists are working closely with their counterparts at local public health authorities, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and CDC to monitor individuals exposed to animals infected with H5N1 and respond promptly if new symptoms consistent with avian influenza develop, said Sidelinger.

When an outbreak in animals occurs, ODA provides personal protective equipment and training to affected farmworkers, and public health authorities provides symptom education and monitoring.

“This has proven an extremely effective approach to avian influenza outbreaks,” Sidelinger said. “While we cannot prevent every case, we know that we are preventing many.”

To reduce the risk of HPAI, people should avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or their droppings or litter, and should not drink or eat unpasteurized or raw dairy products such as milk or cheese.
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https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORHA/bulletins/3c21d2e

 

[Commonground]

Health officials are not providing additional details about the individual, naming the operation, and will not be providing specific location information to protect privacy. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low.​

tells it all in Oregon.

 

[Commonground]

22 days from the culling until the reported human case. That's a long time.