1st US Pig Tests Positive for Bird Flu; Oregon Backyard Farm Under Quarantine

USDA issued a statement on Oct. 30 that said the infected pig was discovered at a backyard farm in Crook County, Oregon, where it shared space with poultry that had previously tested positive for the virus.
The department said the farm, which houses a mix of poultry and livestock, has been placed under quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading further.
The infected pig and four others on the property were euthanized to facilitate additional diagnostic analysis to check for the virus. “Test results were negative for two of the pigs, and test results are still pending for two others,” the statement said.
“Pigs can be infected with multiple types of flu, and the animals can play a role in making bird viruses better adapted to humans,” Jennifer Nuzzo, a pandemic researcher at Brown University, told The Associated Press.
Nuzzo said it’s important to monitor the situation closely.
“If we’re trying to stay ahead of this virus and prevent it from becoming a threat to the broader public, knowing if it’s in pigs is crucial,” she said.
Others, including Troy Sutton, a flu virus researcher at Penn State, said there is no need for immediate panic.
Local and federal agencies, including the Oregon Department of Health, Oregon State Veterinarian, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are coordinating efforts in the investigation. They promised to provide updates as new findings come in.
In response to the ongoing threat of H5N1, the department said it continues to “invest heavily” in vaccine research and development to stop the virus’s spread among animals. It said it has already approved two vaccine field safety trials for potential vaccines that would work with cows and is exploring vaccine options for other species.
So far in 2024, nearly 40 human cases of H5N1 have been reported in various U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, Texas, and Missouri. Most of these cases resulted in mild symptoms, mostly eye redness, and all but one of the infected individuals had been in contact with infected animals.