Oregon's first human case of avian influenza reported by health officials

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The first human case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in Oregon has been confirmed, health officials announced on Friday.

The person infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, was linked to a Clackamas County commercial poultry operation, where the Oregon Department of Agriculture had already confirmed the virus was in 150,000 birds, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

Officials said there is currently no evidence of person-to-person transmission of HPAI and added "the risk to the public is low."

Officials said they would not name the commercial poultry operation or provide specific location information or give other details about the patient so as to protect the patient's privacy.

“Clackamas County Public Health Division has been closely monitoring people exposed to the animal outbreak, which is how this case was identified. The individual experienced only mild illness and has fully recovered,” Clackamas County Public Health Officer Dr. Sarah Present, Clackamas County Public Health Officer, said in a statement.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed human cases of avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, in Washington state. A week after the Washington cases were announced, officials confirmed three of those infected had traveled to Oregon during their infectious period and were monitored during their stay.

The U.S. has seen an ongoing outbreak of bird flu since February 2022, with 104 million birds affected in 48 states, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist at Oregon Health Authority, said in a statement Oregonians who have an increased risk of infection will have had "close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals, or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals."

Oregon health officials also say coordination with local health officials, ODA and the CDC has helped them respond to animal infections by having other agencies provide personal protective equipment and training.

“This has proven an extremely effective approach to avian influenza outbreaks,” Sidelinger said. “While we cannot prevent every case, we know that we are preventing many.”

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.