Chook flu has presumably contaminated 4 agricultural staff in Washington state, in line with the Washington State Division of Well being.
In a press launch Sunday, the Washington State Division of Well being mentioned the “workers tested presumptively positive for avian influenza after working with infected poultry at a commercial egg farm in Franklin County.” Franklin County is within the jap half of the Evergreen State, which is thought for its agriculture.
In response to the well being division, these presumably contaminated went by “mild symptoms and have been provided with antiviral medication,” and that the potential infections “are the first presumed human cases of H5 virus under investigation in Washington state.”
“Testing of additional individuals on the farm is currently pending, and the number of cases under investigation may change,” the well being division mentioned within the launch.
The well being division additionally mentioned that “[t]he cases took place at a farm that was the site of an avian influenza outbreak in chickens.”
A spokesperson for the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) mentioned in an emailed assertion despatched to The Hill on Tuesday that they’re ready on “specimens for avian flu testing from Washington state, and a team is being deployed to support the state’s assessment of the health of workers involved in a depopulation event at a poultry facility there.”
This yr, there have been “27 H5 human cases reported in the US,” in line with the CDC. Chook flu generally spreads in birds in addition to different animals. Nevertheless, it may infect people if they arrive involved with physique fluid from an contaminated animal.
“While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures,” the company mentioned on their web site.
