Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced On Friday, it was announced that an unnamed individual in Oregon became the first person in the state to become infected with the avian influenza pathogen.
This individual was associated with a previously reported outbreak affecting birds at a commercial poultry farm in Clackamas County.
“The Clackamas County Public Health Department has been closely monitoring people exposed to animal outbreaks, which led to the identification of this case. This person experienced only mild symptoms and has fully recovered. We did,” said Clackamas County Public Health Director Dr. Sarah Present.
There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the disease, officially known as avian influenza (HPAI).
Fifty-two people from eight states have tested positive in the U.S. this year after the virus infected poultry flocks and spread to more than 500 dairy herds, according to the CDC.
“We know that people at high risk of infection are those who have had close or prolonged unprotected exposure to infected birds or other animals, or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals. We continue to remind the public,” said Dean Seidlinger of the Department of Health. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) employee and state epidemiologist.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is closely monitoring individuals in the state and providing training as well as personal protective equipment to affected farmworkers, along with symptom education and monitoring. .
They warn the public to stay away from dead birds, sick animals and raw dairy products.
