FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash.-Two human cases of bird flu have been confirmed in Franklin County by the Centers for Disease Control.
Avian influenza was detected in poultry at a commercial egg farm in Franklin County last week and tests came back presumptively positive before being confirmed by the CDC.
The Washington Department of Health, Benton-Franklin Heath District and CDC all have staff on site who are investigating exposures and testing workers, according to a CDC press release.
Four workers at the egg farm were sickened and tested presumptively positive on Oct. 18. leading to 800,000 birds being euthanized after Washington State DOH testing indicated they were infected with the virus.
According to the CDC, any employees or contractors who may have worked on a poultry farm in Benton or Franklin counties since October 7, 2024, should contact BFHD at 509-460-4550 if they have symptoms, such as red eyes, feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, or other influenza-like illness.
Those who encounter sick birds are asked to fill out the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s reporting form, linked here.
