OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The first cases of avian flu have been reported in Washington state.

The Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH) says the four workers at a Franklin County commercial egg farm are the first presumed human cases in the state. They tested presumptively positive for avian influenza after working with infected poultry.

Around 800,000 chickens at the farm were euthanized after the Washington State Department of Agriculture found they tested positive for the H5 virus last week.

Any employees or contractors who may have worked on a poultry farm in Benton or Franklin counties since Oct. 7, 2024, should contact the Benton-Franklin Health District if they have symptoms. Symptoms of avian flu include red eyes or respiratory infections.

According to WSDOH, Washington is the sixth state to identify a human infection of avian flu in recent years.