Four workers a commercial egg farm in Franklin County, Washington, have tested presumptively positive for H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported.
The farm where they were working had a flock of 839,700 laying hens affected by HPAI, with that case being confirmed on October 15.
The Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD) conducted health checks on the exposed workers and coordinated testing at the Washington State Public Health Lab. The patients had been experiencing mild symptoms and were provided with antiviral medication.
Samples from the patients have been forwarded to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for final confirmation and analysis.
BFHD and DOH are working with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the CDC on the regional response to this outbreak. DOH and BFHD have provided personal protective equipment to workers on the farm, are monitoring exposed workers for symptoms of avian influenza, and are providing testing, vaccines, and treatment for symptomatic workers.
Any employees or contractors who may have worked on a poultry farm in Benton or Franklin counties since October 7 should contact BFHD at +1.509.460.4550 if they have symptoms such as red eyes or respiratory infections.
Washington is the sixth state to identify a human infection of H5N1.
“Washington has monitored the spread of H5N1 closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022, and our state is prepared with the knowledge, relationships, and tools to minimize its impacts on our community,” said Washington Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah.
The DOH has worked in partnership with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to respond to detections of H5N1 in animals in the state, and to monitor the health of people exposed to infected animals. The DOH has worked with these animal health partners to distribute personal protective equipment and informational materials to dairy and poultry farmers.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
