Skip to Main Content

Provider Digest | Volume 171

Date: 05/21/25

Monitoring for Novel Influenza A Virus Infections

In a recent Health Alert Network update, the Oregon Health Authority shared the below recommendations for monitoring for novel influenza A virus infections:

Clinical and Laboratory Recommendations
As the multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry, dairy cattle, and other animals continues and fair season begins, monitoring for novel influenza A virus infections in humans is critical to understanding whether these viruses are moving from animals to humans and spreading between humans. Testing for influenza viruses and monitoring for novel influenza A virus infections should continue year-round.

Recommendations for Clinicians
All patients seeking care for influenza-like illness outside of the influenza season should be asked about pig exposure, agricultural fair attendance, and contact with wild birds, poultry, or dairy cattle with known or suspected avian influenza virus infection. Patients who report pig exposure, fair attendance, or contact with wild birds or ill animals should have nasopharyngeal, nasal, and oropharyngeal swabs collected in viral transport medium for molecular testing at Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL). Patient with eye irritation should have a conjunctival swab (PDF) collected as well.

Empiric antiviral treatment for influenza (i.e., oseltamivir) should be started as soon as possible on all patients with risk factors for novel influenza viruses (pig exposure, fair attendance, or contact with wild birds or ill animals) and should not be delayed pending laboratory testing. For information on dosing and duration of antiviral therapy, see CDC’s Interim Guidance on the Use of Antiviral Medications for Treatment of Human Infections with Novel Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Human Disease.

Recommendations for Laboratories
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) continues to ask that Oregon hospital laboratories submit all influenza-positive specimens from hospitalized patients to OSPHL for subtyping to bolster surveillance for novel influenza, including HPAI or 'bird flu'. In addition, under Oregon Administrative Rule 333-018-0015, all laboratories in Oregon are required to report (and submit) all influenza-positive specimens exhibiting atypical features (i.e., ‘unsubtypeable’ specimens) to OHA by phone immediately, day or night, at 971-673-1111. Unsubtypeable specimens are influenza A-positive specimens which are not able to be subtyped despite having been tested with an assay designed to provide an influenza subtyping result.

Additional resources
Guidance for submitting specimens for 2024-25 influenza surveillance (PDF)
OHA’s avian influenza website

For questions regarding influenza, please contact Dr. Melissa Sutton at melissa.sutton@oha.oregon.gov

      ______________________________________________________

      Lane County Trillium Behavioral Health Public Webpage is Live!

      The Lane County Trillium Behavioral Health team is excited to announce the launch of our public webpage! If you completed our setup survey in the last couple of months, you should have received an email with a link to complete a May availability survey for your practice on Monday, May 5. The setup survey created your provider profile internally, but to ensure that your practice appears on the public webpage, you must also complete the availability survey. The setup survey comes from Lane County Trillium Behavioral Health at the email address noreply@qemailserver.com. If you completed the setup survey but did not receive a link to the availability survey, please contact both Emma St.Clair and Erinn Stevens for assistance. Since we are also new to this process, we appreciate your patience as we work to troubleshoot any technical issues that arise.

      To view our new public-facing webpage, please click Lane County BH Provider Finder. Please share widely with members or other community partners!

      ______________________________________________________

      Free Motivational Interviewing Training for Immunizers

      In partnership with Boost Oregon, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Transformation Center is sponsoring free virtual trainings this May and June. Intended for health care providers and immunizers, all sessions offer an introduction to motivational interviewing to inform vaccine conversations.

      For more information, view this OHA bulletin.

        ______________________________________________________

        Coming in June: IRCO Vaccination Clinics and Resource Fairs

        The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is offering free vaccination clinics in Clackamas and Washington counties for school-aged children and adults. Oregon Health Plan enrollment and other community resources will also be available at the vaccination clinics.

        IRCO / Clackamas County No-Cost Vaccination Clinic and Resource Fair 

        • Wednesday, June 11, 3:30-7:30 p.m.
        • Milwaukie Community Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr.
        • Walk-ins encouraged
        • View the flyer (PDF)

        IRCO / Washington County No-Cost Vaccination Clinic and Resource Fair 

        • Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
        • IRCO Greater Middle Eastern Center, 4915 SW Griffith Dr., Suite 216
        • View the flyer (PDF)

        Please share this information with your patients who may want to attend.

          ______________________________________________________