Two flocks of birds at C. Washington State Fair test positive for avian flu

YAKIMA – Two flocks of birds at the recently concluded Central Washington State Fair were infected with bird flu, but health officials say it’s a strain that has not been shown to infect humans.

On Friday evening, the Yakima Health District sent local medical providers a notice about the possible exposure to fairgoers.

“The avian influenza viruses identified in 2015 to the present in U.S. birds are not known to have caused human illness but similar viruses have caused human illness in other countries,” the alert said.

Health District administrator Andre Fresco spoke with a zoonotic specialist at the Department of Health Friday night, who confirmed the concern with this low-pathogenic avian influenza strain lies in bird-to-bird transmission.

If birds contract avian flu, they need to be put down because of the risk of the virus spreading through the flock, Fresco said.

The Health District routinely sends alerts to medical providers if there is an uptick in a certain disease or a concern about an illness that may not be commonly seen here.

The two flocks of birds that tested positive for avian flu were from Lewis County, not Yakima County. They were tested on Sept. 28 but the Health District did not learn of the results until Friday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture did the testing, although it’s unclear where that took place, whether at the fair or at a farm before the birds were brought to the Yakima fairgrounds. The state Department of Agriculture is following up with the birds in Lewis County, and the Health District is working with fair directors to contact other exhibitors whose flocks may have been exposed.

Fresco did not know what kind of birds were involved.

In avian flu strains that do affect humans, symptoms show up one to 10 days after exposure. With low-pathogenic strains such as this one, symptoms are the same as for normal human flu: cough, fever, body aches, weakness and fatigue, and sometimes sore throat, runny nose, chills and difficulty breathing.

It is always important that people wash their hands after handling animals, especially before eating or putting their fingers in their mouths, which can be difficult with small children, Fresco said.

If anyone is concerned they may be experiencing symptoms, Fresco said, they should speak with their medical provider.