Notes from the Field: Early-Season #Human #Plague Transmitted from an Infected #Cat — #Oregon, January 2024

 

Summary

-- What is known about this topic?

- Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is transmitted primarily through fleas from rodents. This case highlights an off-season transmission of plague. Plague is most often identified during May–August.

-- What is added by this report?

- An Oregon man sought care at an emergency department for signs and symptoms of plague on January 30, 2024, the earliest calendar date of plague recorded in the state’s history, possibly indicating a shift in the seasonality of plague incidence. The patient did not have direct contact with rodents, but did have contact with his infected cat after cutting his finger.

-- What are the implications for public health practice?

- Public health messaging and diagnostic efforts regarding plague are warranted year-round in areas with endemic disease.

Abstract

Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Y. pestis is transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected rodent flea or handling of infected animals. Plague is a rare but potentially life-threatening illness in the western United States, occurring in bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic forms, primarily affecting rural populations, and is treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed early.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7426a2.htm?s_cid=mm7426a2_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM148456&ACSTrackingLabel=Week%20in%20MMWR%3A%20Vol.%2074%2C%20July%2017%2C%202025&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM148456

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Avian #Influenza A(#H5) Subtype in #Wastewater — #Oregon, September 15, 2021–July 11, 2024 {MMWR}

Summary

-- What is already known about this topic?

- Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) outbreaks have emerged in U.S. cattle and poultry. Wastewater surveillance detects influenza A(H5) subtype but does not currently distinguish between human and animal sources.

-- What is added by this report?

- During September 15, 2021–July 11, 2024, retrospective analysis of wastewater surveillance data revealed 21 avian influenza A(H5) subtype detections across 12 Oregon communities. No association was found between detections in a community’s wastewater and history of a poultry outbreak or presence of dairy processing facilities or dairy farms within the sewershed. Avian influenza A(H5) was detected most frequently in two communities with important wild bird habitats.

-- What are the implications for public health practice?

- Wastewater surveillance was an early indicator of avian influenza emergence in Oregon. Nonhuman and noncattle animal inputs, including wild birds, are an essential consideration when interpreting A(H5) subtype detections in wastewater.

Abstract

Wastewater surveillance is an important tool in the surveillance of emerging pathogens and has been leveraged during the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus outbreak in cattle and poultry in the United States. Interpretation of avian influenza A(H5) subtype detections in wastewater requires an understanding of human and animal contributors to the sewershed because current testing does not distinguish between human and animal sources. Potential animal contributors include wild birds, farms with poultry or dairy cattle outbreaks, and dairy processing facilities. Retrospective analysis of 551 influenza A virus–positive wastewater surveillance samples from 20 sites in Oregon during September 15, 2021–July 11, 2024, revealed 21 avian influenza A(H5) subtype detections across 12 communities. Avian influenza A(H5) subtype detections in wastewater began approximately 6 weeks before Oregon’s first HPAI outbreak in domestic poultry, 7 weeks before Oregon’s first avian influenza A(H5) detection in wild birds, and 2 years before the first HPAI A(H5N1) outbreak in dairy cattle in the United States (Oregon has not detected HPAI A(H5N1) in dairy cattle or milk). No association was found between detection of avian influenza A(H5) in a community’s wastewater and history of an HPAI A(H5) outbreak among poultry in the county or presence of dairy processing facilities or dairy farms within the sewershed. Avian influenza A(H5) was detected most frequently in two communities with important wild bird habitats. Animal inputs, including from wild birds, should be considered when interpreting avian influenza A(H5) subtype detections in wastewater.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7406a5.htm?s_cid=mm7406a5_w&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM145368&ACSTrackingLabel=This%20Week%20in%20MMWR%3A%20Vol.%2074%2C%20February%2027%2C%202025&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM145368

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#USA, #Oregon: State ends year with highest #pertussis case count since 1950

As Oregon sweeps past the 1,100 cases mark, health officials remind everyone that vaccination against whooping cough is best way to prevent transmission

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon swept past the 1,100 mark for the number of pertussis cases it’s seen during 2024, beating its 2012 record of 910 cases in a single year—and making the need for people to stay up to date with their vaccinations all the more urgent.

As of Monday, Dec. 30, Oregon Health Authority registered 1,105 cases of pertussis—also known as whooping cough—during 2024. There were 44 outbreaks, although the majority of cases were sporadic individual or household-related cases and not associated with outbreaks. The 2024 count represents the highest number of pertussis cases reported in Oregon in a single year since 1950, when 1,420 cases were reported.

Since 2003, eight Oregonians with pertussis have died. Five were younger than 4 months old, and there have been three deaths in adults – one in 2023 and two in 2024.

While Oregon didn’t beat its 74-year record for most cases in a year, 1,105 is still an extremely high number for a vaccine-preventable disease, said Paul Cieslak, M.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division. It’s also a stark reminder of how quickly the bacterial infection can spread and cause illness, particularly among people who are under- or unvaccinated.

“The pertussis vaccine is a public health success story in terms of its effectiveness in reducing severe illness and deaths from the disease—particularly among infants,” Cieslak said.

According to data from the epidemiologists in Oregon Public Health Division’s Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section, the median age of the 2024 cases is 12; 7.2% of cases are less than a year old, 80% are 18 or younger and 50% are female. About half of the cases are up to date with pertussis vaccines.

Lane County has reported the highest number of pertussis cases this year with 315. Rounding out the top five counties are Multnomah, 235 cases; Clackamas, 135; Washington, 119; and Marion, 75.

Pertussis case counts vary considerably from year to year, routinely reaching triple digits. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions such as masking requirements and school closures were in effect, which kept annual case counts low, Cieslak said. Vaccination rates also slipped.

“People were less motivated to get vaccinated against pertussis when there was less concern they would be exposed to the infection in the first place,” he said.

But with pertussis activity so high this year, there are more opportunities for people to be exposed, Cieslak noted. Those who are unvaccinated or too young to be vaccinated, such as infants, are at the highest risk from infection, with babies most likely to be hospitalized with pertussis.

But there are ways to protect vulnerable individuals. Pregnant people can protect their young babies by getting the Tdap vaccine—which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis—at 27–36 weeks’ gestation. Mothers will make antibodies and pass them to their babies across the placenta, protecting them from the moment of birth. It is recommended during each pregnancy.

“In recent years, about two-thirds of pregnant Oregonians have been getting vaccinated during pregnancy,” Cieslak said. “However, only 11 of the mothers of the 80 infant cases this year had documentation of having gotten the recommended shot.”

Vaccination against pertussis is routinely recommended for infants, children, adolescents and adults. Children should receive the DTaP vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis at 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months old, and again at age 4 to kindergarten age. All persons 10 years old and older should receive a single dose of Tdap.

“Additionally, when pertussis strikes a household in which an infant or pregnant person lives, we recommend all members of the household receive a course of antibiotics effective against Bordetella pertussis—typically, a five-day course of azithromycin,” Cieslak said.

Source: Department of Health, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORHA/bulletins/3c9f333

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#USA, #Oregon: Morasch #Meats of #Portland Voluntary #Recall of Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb #Feline #Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen #Pet #Food Due to #HPAI {#H5N1} Contamination

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is alerting pet owners that samples of Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food tested positive for a H5N1 strain of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus. 

Testing conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) and the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ODVL) at Oregon State University confirmed a house cat in Washington County contracted H5N1 and died after consuming the raw frozen pet food. 

Tests confirmed a genetic match between the virus in the raw and frozen pet food and the infected cat.

“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,” said ODA State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz. 

“This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other.”

Northwest Naturals, a Portland, Oregon-based company, is voluntarily recalling its Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food. 

The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. 

The product was sold nationwide through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada. 

Customers who have purchased the recalled product should immediately discard the product and contract the place of purchase for a full refund. 

For additional information or questions, customers may contact Northwest Naturals of Portland at info@nw-naturals.net or 866-637-1872 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM PST, Monday through Friday

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and local public health officials are monitoring household members who had contact with the cat for flu symptoms. 

To date, no human cases of HPAI have been linked to this incident, and the risk of HPAI transmission to humans remains low in Oregon. 

Since 2022, OHA has partnered with ODA through a One Health approach to investigate human exposures to animal outbreaks of avian influenza.

To avoid the spread of disease, including HPAI, state, and federal experts strongly encourage people and their pets to:

-- Avoid consuming raw or undercooked meat products

-- Avoid consuming raw dairy

-- Limit contact with sick or dead animals

-- Wash your hands after handling raw animal products or contact with sick/dead animals

-- Report sick or dead birds to ODA at 503-986-4711

-- Keep pets or poultry away from wild waterfowl

This case reminds us that feeding raw meat products to pets or consuming them yourself can lead to severe illness. 

Raw meat may contain harmful pathogens, including Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and H5N1. These pathogens are destroyed when meat is thoroughly cooked. 

Raw milk, which has not been pasteurized, can also carry harmful germs. Pasteurization of milk eliminates disease-causing pathogens, including HPAI.

Although Oregon has reported one confirmed human case of HPAI, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in dairy cows or cow milk. 

As a precautionary measure, ODA announced on December 11 that it will test milk from every commercial dairy across the state. Neighboring states such as Idaho, Nevada, and California have reported HPAI cases in dairy cattle herds, contributing to over 700 confirmed cases in 16 states nationwide.

Source: Department of Agriculture, https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/ODA/Posts/Post/morasch-meats-voluntary-recall-feline-raw-pet-food-hpai