Oregon confirms first case of avian flu

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 provide 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.”

Avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or their droppings or litter.