Avian Flu Confirmed in Washington State

Avian Flu Confirmed in Washington State

More than 200,000 domestic birds are infected with a strain of the avian flu in British Columbia. Two cases of a different strain of avian flu have been confirmed in Northwest Washington’s Whatcom County however, these affected birds were wild fowl.
Deputy Director of Emergency Management of Whatcom County Sheriff Department Kent Catlin says the public should not be concerned.
Catlin: “This avian influenza has shown up only in wild birds. There is no reports of avian influenza in domestic poultry population in Washington state. Washington State poultry remains a safe and quality food source for the citizens of Washington State. For most folks it might be a little confusing based on what is happening up in Canada where it is the reverse situation in Abbotsford, British Columbia where they have a different strain of the virus that is impacting their poultry production.”
According to a USDA news release, the two strains found in Washington H5N2 and H5N8 — have been found in other parts of the world and have not caused any human infection to date. While neither virus has been found in commercial poultry, federal authorities with USDA also emphasize that poultry, poultry products and wild birds are safe to eat even if they carry the disease if they are properly handled and cooked to a temperate of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

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