The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a highly pathogenic form of bird flu in a person in Oregon — the state’s first. The infected person is linked to a previously reported outbreak linked to a commercial poultry operation in the state, where the virus has been confirmed in 150,000 birds, according to the state health authority.

At present, no details of the infected person from the western state have been made available. However, officials said there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low.

According to officials, the infected person is linked to a poultry operation in Clackamas County, where the Oregon Department of Agriculture previously confirmed the virus in 150,000 birds. Last month, about 150,000 chickens were culled in the same county to prevent the spread of the virus.

state officials Infected individuals had only mild disease

While this virus is usually fatal in poultry, it is usually mild for humans. Symptoms of bird flu include high fever, chills, red eyes and respiratory illnesses such as cough and sore throat.

In a statement, Clackamas County Public Health Officer Sarah Present said they are “closely monitoring people who may have been exposed to the animal outbreak that led to the identification of this case.” The individual experienced only mild illness and has fully recovered.”

Health officials say the risk to the public is low, and “there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission.”

More than 50 people have tested positive in seven states since the beginning of this year, as the virus has infected poultry flocks and spread to more than 500 dairy herds, the CDC said. According to the data, except for one case in Missouri, all the cases were farm workers who had contact with infected animals.

CDC asks all humans working on farms to get tested for bird flu

Bird flu infection was confirmed last month in a pig at a backyard farm in Oregon — the first detection of the virus in pigs in the country. According to new CDC guidelines, all farm workers who have been exposed to animals with bird flu should be tested, even if they don’t have symptoms.

The virus has destroyed more than 100 million poultry birds in the country’s worst bird flu outbreak since 2022.

Officials say those most at risk are those who regularly work with sick animals. To reduce the risk, officials say, “people should avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or their droppings or litter.” Officials also caution against consuming unpasteurized or raw dairy products.

Get the latest news live on Times Now with breaking news and top headlines from around the world.