Bird Flu Emergence Near Seattle Has Officials on Alert

The bird flu has been detected in mammals in the Seattle-area, as officials warn the long running outbreak among birds could spillover into humans.

Researchers from the University of Washington (UW) are sounding alarms after harbor seals in the Puget Sound, the body of water bordering Tacoma and Seattle, tested positive for the virus. Officials are warning people to stay away from wildlife in the area.

Peter Rabinowitz, MD, the director of UW’s Center for One Health Research, says that right now the risk of the virus jumping from mammals like these seals to humans is low, however, it’s still disconcerting.

“When you see a sick wild animal, there is always a potential risk to you if you go up and touch it or get too close to being infected,” Dr. Rabinowitz said. “You should always use a lot of caution, keep away from sick animals, call animal control, find some way that somebody can deal with it who can use adequate protective equipment. And that's certainly true if you are seeing sick harbor seals or sick seabirds in Washington state.”

This development is part of a longer, ongoing outbreak of bird flu across the globe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that outbreaks among birds have been recorded in 47 states, affecting more than 50 million birds in the U.S.

“It's really an unprecedented outbreak. The number of countries involved, the number of different types of animals involved, both birds and mammals, is something we've absolutely never seen before,” Dr. Rabinowitz continued.

However, the CDC is only reporting one human case of avian influenza, and that case came from an exposure to an infected bird. 

Recently, France took the major step to start vaccinating ducks against bird flu in an effort to curb the outbreak. American officials have also considered vaccinating fowl to prevent the virus’s spread.

How can I protect myself from bird flu?

The CDC recommends that people stay away from handling or touching wild birds. It is not recommending any travel restrictions, and it says that properly prepared food is still safe to eat. 

If you come into contact with a wild bird and become sick, the CDC says you should isolate yourself until you recover. Your case should be reported to your local health authority for tracking purposes and so they can advise on when isolation can end. 

Any family members or close contacts should monitor for flu-like symptoms, especially respiratory symptoms, and be ready to isolate should they become ill.