A Grays Harbor County resident who was undergoing treatment for H595 avian influenza has died, the Washington state Department of Health (DOH) announced Friday.
The person, whose name, gender and age were withheld by the DOH, was an older adult with underlying health conditions and had been hospitalized in King County since early November.
The risk to the public remains low. No other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza, according to the DOH. Public health officials will continue to monitor anyone who was in close contact with the patient for symptoms to ensure that human-to-human spread has not occurred. There is no evidence of transmission of this virus between people.
Testing at the University of Washington Medicine Clinical Virology Lab identified the virus as H595, making this the first recorded infection with this variant in a person globally. The result was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The person had a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds. DOH sampling identified avian influenza virus in the environment of the flock, making exposure to the domestic poultry, their environment, or wild birds the most likely source of exposure for this patient. People who had exposure to the backyard flock and environment are also being monitored for symptoms of avian influenza, the DOH reported.
Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses, which naturally occur in wild aquatic birds around the world. These viruses can infect other bird species, and occasionally mammals, and can be deadly to domestic birds such as chickens and turkeys. On rare occasions, avian influenza viruses can infect people and make them sick.
People with backyard poultry should avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report illness in poultry to the Washington state Department of Agriculture (WSDA) by calling 1-800-606-3056 or reporting online at https://tinyurl.com/mrynw3ky.
Veterinarians should report sick or dead domestic animals or livestock suspected of having avian influenza to WSDA. Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife and report sick or dead wild birds or other animals to the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Never handle or allow pets near dead birds or other wildlife.
Avoid eating raw or undercooked food products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk or raw cheeses, and don’t feed these products to pets.
It is especially important that people who may have exposure to domestic or wild birds get a seasonal flu vaccine, according to the DOH. While the seasonal flu vaccine will not prevent bird flu infection, it reduces the risk of becoming sick with both human and avian influenza viruses at the same time. Though unlikely, infection with both viruses could result in the emergence of an avian influenza virus that is more easily transmitted from person to person. Seasonal flu vaccines are recommended for everyone six months of age and older.
For more information, visit doh.wa.gov.
