This week, Washington state reported four human cases of avian influenza, marking it as the sixth state to encounter similar occurrences. According to the CDC, the total number of infections in the U.S. has now reached at least 31. While experts believe the risk of person-to-person transmission remains low, the spread of the avian flu virus among livestock is still a cause for concern.
As flu season approaches, the risk of dual infections — where two flu viruses affect the same host and exchange genetic material — increases the potential for new, mutated strains to emerge. The avian flu virus has been rampant among birds, poultry, and livestock.
On October 22, the CDC announced that the four farm workers diagnosed in Washington state had contributed to the rising national infection count. Flu specialists warn that if the virus continues to spread among animals, an outbreak of human cluster infections is not out of the question.
Amber Itle, a veterinarian in Washington, expressed concern: “The longer this virus remains in the environment, the more animals it can spread to, and the more it can mutate in ways we may not understand or predict. It raises the question of whether we could be facing the next global pandemic.”
Public health officials stated that, so far, there haven’t been any major genetic changes in the avian flu virus, and there is currently no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. Umair Shah, the head of Washington’s health department, noted that while there is no indication the virus is spreading among humans, should that happen, it would represent a significant milestone. A CDC spokesperson announced on October 23 that a team of experts has been dispatched to Washington, and, for now, the threat to the general public remains low.
However, for frontline agricultural workers, the threat appears to be increasing. All four workers infected in Washington were tasked with culling birds at an egg-laying farm after an outbreak occurred in the flock, leading to their exposure.
The affected chicken farm, located in Franklin County in southeastern Washington, houses approximately 800,000 chickens. Workers carrying out the culling procedures are equipped with goggles, respirators, and high-density polyethylene protective suits to guard against infection. Despite these precautions, some workers have reported mild respiratory symptoms and conjunctivitis (pink eye) after their shifts, although these symptoms have not required hospitalization.
The only case of infection not tied to contact with animals has been recorded in Missouri, and the CDC is investigating the circumstances surrounding it.
