Oregon’s first case of bird flu infecting a human reported in Clackamas County

Published 2:31 pm Friday, November 15, 2024

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Oregon Health Authority announced the state’s first reported case of a human contracting avian influenza, also known as bird flu.

According to a Nov. 15 press release from OHA, the contraction is linked to a previously reported case of avian influenza among birds at a commercial poultry facility in Clackamas County.

The OHA emphasized that there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission and risk to the general 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,” Clackamas County Public Health Officer Sarah Present said in the release. “The individual experienced only mild illness and has fully recovered.”

This particular variation of bird flu, known as H5N1, has spread widely among birds and dairy cattle in the United States this year, with 52 cases reported in humans so far across the country, according to CDC figures.

Oregon Health Authority epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger said that the greatest risk is to those who have prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected birds and animals or environments contaminated by those animals. He added that health authorities are working together to monitor the symptoms of those who may have been exposed to animals infected with H5N1.

Due to privacy concerns, officials declined to name the person or facility where the outbreak occurred.

“To reduce the risk of HPAI, people should avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or their droppings or litter, and should not drink or eat unpasteurized or raw dairy products such as milk or cheese,” the OHA press release stated.