A backyard flock of bird flu-infected chickens in Platte County has led to Wyoming’s first human case of avian influenza, according to the Wyoming Health Department.
The woman, whose name was not released, is the third confirmed hospitalization related to the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in the United States. She’s hospitalized in another state.
Her age was not given, but Dr. Alexa Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with Wyoming Department of Health, said the individual was “older” and had health conditions that can make people more susceptible to illness.
She was exposed to the virus through direct contact with an infected poultry flock at her home, a test result that was confirmed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s laboratory.
“While this is a significant development, as bird flu activity is monitored in Wyoming and across the country, it is not something we believe requires a high level of concern among most Wyoming residents,” Harrist said, pointing out most of the nation’s almost 70 cases have been people who were directly handling poultry flocks.
“Experts continue to track the spread of H5N1 through wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle across the country,” Harrist added. “A small number of people have been infected. Most of the confirmed cases involved on-the-job close contact with poultry or cattle and mild symptoms. Unfortunately, this patient’s experience has been more serious.”
Risk Is Low
So far, there have been no cases of human-to-human transmission of H5N1 in the United States. There was one death, reported in Louisiana in January.
Harrist said her staff has followed up with people who had contact with either the poultry flock or the woman who became ill, and would continue working with both state and national experts to monitor the situation in Wyoming.
While public risk is so far low, Harrist recommended out of an abundance of caution that the public take a few precautions, such as avoiding direct contact with wild birds or domestic birds that appear ill or have died.
Sick birds should be reported to either a veterinarian or to the Wyoming Livestock Board at 307-777-8270.
Sick or dead wild birds may be reported to Wyoming Game and Fish Department at 307-745-5865, or reported online.
If contact with sick birds is necessary, wear personal protective equipment.
Harrist also recommended against direct exposure to cattle or materials that are potentially infected with or confirmed to be infected with avian influenza. That includes raw milk or products made with raw milk.
Avian Influenza Is Widespread
Avian influenza has been widespread in wild bird populations for awhile now, both in the United States and around the world.
Wyoming’ confirmed avian influenza in eight wild birds in 2022, but has since found it in many other wild species, including mountain lion clubs, snow geese, foxes, great horned owls and bald eagles.
More recently, avian influenza has been confirmed in some dairy cattle in the state. Nationwide, exposure to infected dairy herds has been the leading cause of human avian influenza cases, according to the CDC’s most current data. Forty-one of the 68 cases so far track back to dairy cattle, while 23 are related to poultry farms and culling operations.
Wyoming’s new case was not reflected in that data.
Avian influenza is particularly deadly to chickens and turkeys. Because of that, the current practice has been to destroy infected flocks to prevent further spread.
Total poultry losses since 2022 total more than 136 million birds, with 13 million of them egg-laying hens, the deadliest outbreak in bird flu history so far.
The situation has led to spiking egg prices, which has many restaurants scrambling when it comes to breakfast. Some grocery stores have also been limiting customers to no more than two cartons of eggs per shopping trip.
Meat from poultry, meanwhile, has not been as affected. Meat birds are killed at younger ages than egg-laying hens, and don’t take as long to produce.
Egg prices aren’t expected to drop any time soon. In fact, USDA’s latest projections show egg prices continuing to rise another 20.3% in 2025, as it will take time for egg producers to recover and grow hens to the right reproductive age.
Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.
