First case of bird flu in pig discovered on small Oregon farm

Oregonians raise about 3,000 pigs every year and at least one just became infected with bird flu. (Courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture)

Oregon officials announced Wednesday that a severe form of bird flu has been detected for the first time in a pig on a small farm in Crook County in central Oregon.

The farm, which was not identified, is a noncommercial operation that had an outbreak of bird flu last week in its flock of poultry, including ducks, geese and guinea fowl. Three pigs on the property that roamed with the poultry initially tested positive for bird flu in pooled oral swabs. Officials euthanized the pigs and tested tissue samples from the animals in the state veterinarian lab. Those showed that one of the pigs had the virus throughout its body.

Two other pigs — both teacups housed in a separate area of the farm with chickens — were also tested with oral swabs and one was positive for the virus. The chickens later showed signs of illness as well.

State officials have humanely euthanized the animals — including dozens of ducks, geese and guinea fowl — and their bodies have been incinerated to prevent spread of the virus. State officials quarantined the farm and provided protective gear to the owners, and they’re continuing to monitor the situation.

This is the latest instance of bird flu in the Northwest, with health officials in Washington state confirming last week that two people working in a commercial egg farm in Franklin County in south-central Washington were infected, Washington State Standard reported.

There have been 36 cases of bird flu in humans in the U.S. — and all but one was associated with contract with infected animals, Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist, said during a news conference.

Sidelinger said there is no sign of bird flu in the owners. He would not say how many people might have come into contact with the infected animals.

“There is no evidence of infection in humans,” Sidelinger said. “There are no pending tests.”

To date, there have been 40 outbreaks in backyard flocks in Oregon, Sidelinger said, with nearly 130 people exposed. None has been infected, he said.

“The risk of avian influenza to the general public remains low,” Sidelinger said.

Those who do become infected often develop mild respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose, sore throat and cough. People can also get conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye.” Some people who’ve been infected have become severely ill and have required hospitalization, according to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

The outbreak is the second in two weeks in Oregon, with birds in a Clackamas County commercial poultry operation also becoming infected last week. That outbreak led to 150 birds being euthanized.

The Crook County farm does not sell to retail, and there’s no risk from the outbreak to the public, officials said.

“The food supply is safe,” said Ryan Scholtz, the Department of Agriculture’s state veterinarian.

Food safety officials recommend properly cooking meat and eggs to kill the virus, along with other harmful bugs like E. coli, which can be deadly. The CDC also recommends pasteurizing milk and dairy products to kill pathogens. Check the U.S. Department of Agriculture website for food safety tips.

The strain of the virus that’s circulating in the U.S. and worldwide is endemic in wild birds, causing outbreaks in poultry and wild mammals, including seals and sea lions, along with domestic animals and hundreds of dairy cows. Officials said it’s been confirmed in dairy cattle in 14 states, including California and Idaho. Oregon has not had any cases in dairy cattle. The Crook County strain is associated with wild birds and not with dairy cows, officials said. Waterfowl carry the virus and can infect farm animals through their droppings or other contact. Domestic cats — especially on dairy farms — have also been infected.

But this is the first time the virus has crossed over to pigs and that could be cause for worry. Sidelinger noted that pigs are also susceptible to the human flu virus and that there could be a potential for the two viruses to co-mingle and mutate, potentially posing more of a threat to humans.

There’s no evidence now of that happening but Scholtz said that’s why state officials take these outbreaks “so seriously.”

The case also caught the attention of agricultural officials in Iowa, one of the country’s top-producing pork states.

Chris Rademache, a clinical professor in the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, said he was not worried by the Oregon case.

“This is a very unique case,” Rademache said.

Rademache said commercial pork producers are mindful of the need to separate poultry and hogs and “do a good job” of that. He also said the state has a “robust” monitoring and testing program to catch any sort of outbreak.

“Pork continues to be safe to eat,” Rademache said.

In Oregon, officials expect the measures taken at the farm will end the outbreak, but they advised others to take these precautions to prevent their animals from becoming infected:

• Prevent exposure of domestic poultry and livestock to wildlife, especially wild waterfowl.
• Limit co-mingling of different species of livestock, especially poultry and pigs.
• Wash your hands before and after handling your flock.
• Clean vehicles, tools and equipment.
• Limit visitors.
• Sanitize shoes in clean foot baths.
• Change clothes after contact with birds.

Cami Koons, a reporter at  the Iowa Capital Dispatch, a States Newsroom affiliate, contributed to this story.

Oregon Capital Chronicle, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X.