成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

King County doctor: Confronting bird flu with lessons learned from COVID-19

Apr 4, 2024, 5:27 PM | Updated: Apr 5, 2024, 7:49 am

Photo: Turkeys stand in a barn on turkey farm near Manson, Iowa on Aug. 10, 2015....

Turkeys stand in a barn on turkey farm near Manson, Iowa on Aug. 10, 2015. (File photo: Charlie Neibergall, AP)

(File photo: Charlie Neibergall, AP)

The spread of bird flu鈥攁round the globe and among different species鈥攊s raising the risk that humans can become infected,聽according to the head of the (WOAH).

“It is spreading,” acknowledged King County Public Health Officer Doctor Jeff Duchin. “It’s spreading globally, it’s spreading in the United States as well. I think we’ll find more and more animals, mammals in particular, will be infected as the virus moves from one population to the next.”

Just this week, , more formally known as avian influenza H5N1.

More on the virus: Deadly bird flu found in Puget Sound harbor seal population

Doctor says risk of bird flu for public ‘remains low’

But Duchin insisted, “There’s no new concern here for the general public. The risk remains low.”

People most likely to contract avian flu, including the Texas case, are those who are in close contact with infected animals.

That’s unlikely to happen in Washington state right now. Though we have seen past outbreaks of avian flu in wild birds and backyard domestic flocks, the said there have been no new, confirmed cases in 2024.

Although , including bears, seals, foxes, dogs and cats, “Right now (the virus) it doesn’t bind to the human airway the same way it’s binding to the tissues of these animal species, and that’s very good for us,” according to Duchin.

But on the social media platform “X” this week, : “Although the risk to humans has not fundamentally changed at this time, we might take this opportunity to review lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and improve our preparedness in public health, healthcare systems and communities.”

Local birds affected: Avian flu outbreak kills 700 waterfowl around Skagit Bay

That’s because viruses can mutate.

Future of the virus

“Being prepared doesn’t mean just having plans on the shelf,” he told 成人X站 Newsradio.聽“It means putting resources in place to allow those plans to actually be implemented, to make sure that we have the capacity in our public health and health care delivery systems and in our communities so that we can weather another pandemic because one will emerge whether it’s from avian influenza or another coronavirus or a currently unrecognized virus.”

We know it will happen, again,” he continued.

Heather Bosch is an award-winning anchor and reporter on 成人X站 Newsradio. You can read more of her stories聽here. Follow Heather on聽, or聽email her here.

MyNorthwest News

Dolly Parton Imagination Library...

Sofia Silvia

‘A heartbreaking loss’: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library loses funding in WA

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will no longer have funding in the state of Washington.

53 minutes ago

tax proposals...

Heather Bosch and Frank Lenzi

Poll shows voters feel Seattle is ‘making progress’ in reducing crime

A new poll shows Seattle voters believe their city is making progress when it comes to reducing crime and the number of homeless encampments.

4 hours ago

Image: An Auburn Police Department vehicle is seen on a city street....

成人X站 7 News Staff

12-year-old dies in rollover crash, mother investigated for DUI and booked for vehicular homicide

An Auburn mother has been charged with vehicular homicide after investigators say she allegedly drove under the influence and flipped her car.

4 hours ago

Seattle Children's Hospital. (Courtesy of 成人X站 7)...

成人X站 7 News Staff

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Seattle Children鈥檚 expand pediatric, neonatal partnership

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) and Seattle Children鈥檚 announced Tuesday they have expanded their longstanding partnership to enhance pediatric and mother-baby health care services across the Puget Sound region. The new strategic affiliation builds on nearly 15 years of collaboration between the two organizations and aims to improve access to expert physicians, specialized care teams, […]

5 hours ago

Virginia Inn (Photo Courtesy of 成人X站 7)...

Sofia Silvia

Seattle staple will keep its doors open, overturning eviction notice

The Historic Virginia Inn will continue to welcome guests in Seattle.

5 hours ago

franklin county jail sheriff...

Frank Sumrall

Standoff between Franklin County sheriff, commissioners escalates over control of county jail

Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond declared he would openly defy a court order after county commissioners voted to establish the Franklin County Department of Corrections, which would remove control of the jail and courthouse from the county's sheriff's office, last week.

5 hours ago

King County doctor: Confronting bird flu with lessons learned from COVID-19