Photo: USDA / Keith Weller (archive)
A Yakima County, Washington, resident died Sunday, November 1, after being hospitalized with severe bird flu following exposure at a dairy with infected cattle, the Yakima Health District said. The resident had underlying health conditions. Officials said the risk to the general public remains low.
The district announced the death in a Sunday news release that also reported a third confirmed human case in the county. That third person had been exposed to infected dairy cattle but had not experienced severe illness or required hospitalization. The district did not release the name, age or gender of the resident who died, citing the family’s privacy.
Public health officials are monitoring people who had close contact with the hospitalized resident for symptoms. They are also working with partner agencies to identify and contact people who may have been in close contact with the third confirmed patient. The three-case total is the county’s cumulative count, not three new cases announced Monday.
The county’s bird flu information page, marked updated November 1, says there is currently no evidence of person-to-person transmission. Officials identify dairy workers and others with close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments as the groups at greater risk. That distinction separates an occupational exposure risk from the low risk officials describe for the wider public.
“Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Yakima Health District Health Officer Dr. Dave Atteberry said in the release. He said avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly in people with underlying health conditions, while reiterating that public health partners continue to monitor the situation.
Avian influenza primarily affects wild birds but can spread to domestic birds, dairy cattle and other animals, and occasionally infect people, the district explains. Infected animals can spread the virus through saliva, mucus and feces; infected cattle can also shed virus in milk. Infection can occur when the virus enters a person’s eyes, nose or mouth.
The district advises people to avoid contact with sick or dead animals and to wear protective equipment when handling them or working in contaminated environments. Dairy workers who develop symptoms after possible exposure should contact a healthcare provider or the Yakima Health District. Listed symptoms include eye irritation, fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing.
Officials say pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to consume because pasteurization kills the virus. They advise avoiding raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products, which can contain the virus, and not feeding pets raw milk or raw animal products. The district plans regular updates to its bird flu webpage on Mondays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. Pacific time. Sunday’s death and case announcement are the basis of this report, not a newly announced Monday afternoon fatality.
JBizNews Desk | Yakima, Washington
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