WASHINGTON: Four farm workers who assisted in culling poultry at a commercial egg farm in Washington state are the latest to contract avian influenza, marking a troubling trend of human infections across the U.S. This makes Washington the sixth state to report human cases of H5N1 this year.
The new cases were identified this week as the virus continues to spread among farm animals. If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms these positive tests, the U.S. total will reach at least 31 cases.
Experts warn that the risk of a broader outbreak among humans remains as long as the virus is uncontrolled in animals. “The longer this virus lingers in the environment and spreads among animals, the more it can mutate in unpredictable ways, raising concerns about a potential global pandemic,” stated Dr. Amber Itle, Washington’s state veterinarian.
Health officials emphasize that, so far, the virus has not undergone significant genetic changes that would enable it to spread between humans. “There is no evidence of sustained human transmission, which is a crucial milestone for us,” said Dr. Umair Shah, Washington’s health secretary, during a news conference.
A CDC spokesperson announced that a federal team is being dispatched to Washington, while maintaining that the public’s risk remains low.
The latest cases involve workers who culled birds at a Franklin County farm where an outbreak of avian influenza was reported. This farm had over 800,000 chickens. The workers were part of a contract crew responsible for euthanizing all the chickens on-site. Dr. Itle noted that they wore full protective gear, including Tyvek suits, goggles, and respirators, although the work environment was challenging due to heat and dust, leading to significant viral exposure.
The four infected individuals reported mild respiratory symptoms and conjunctivitis, or pink eye, which are common indicators of avian influenza infection. Fortunately, none required hospitalization.
Dr. Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, described the Washington cases as consistent with a broader pattern observed nationwide, where workers involved in culling sick animals have become ill.
Slovakia Reports Avian Influenza Outbreak
Slovakia has also confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza on a poultry farm, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This comes as Europe experiences a seasonal rise in the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.
The virus resulted in the deaths of 200 birds on a farm in Kamarno, a town in southwestern Slovakia near the Hungarian border. The remaining 40,260 birds in the flock were subsequently slaughtered, as reported by Slovakian authorities to WOAH. Hungary has also seen a resurgence of the virus in recent weeks.
