In Other News

HOLIDAY SCHEDULES

Local, county, state, and federal offices will be closed and Grant Transit Authority buses will not be operating on Thursday, Dec. 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday.

Soap Lake City Hall and the Grant County Courthouse will also be closed on Christmas Eve (Wednesday, Dec. 24) and GTA buses will not be in service after 5 p.m.

Most federal offices will also be closed on Christmas Eve and Friday, Dec. 26.

There will be no garbage collection by Consolidated Disposal Service trucks on Christmas Day. Instead, Thursday routes will be picked on Friday and Friday routes will be picked up on Saturday this week. Service will be earlier than usual and customers are asked to set their cans out the night beforehand.

All public schools are closed for winter break with classes resuming on Monday, Jan. 5.

HHH CHRISTMAS MEAL

EPHRATA -- His Helping Hands ministry will host its annual free Christmas dinner on Thursday, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in partnership with Our Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 172 Ivy St. S.E.  

All are welcome to enjoy the meal. Younger children can also receive a gift bag with a stuffed animal, wrapped gift, stocking filled with toys, and a candy-filled cane while teens will receive a gift bag of candy.

GCHD, STATE FINISH BIRD FLU RESPONSE

MOSES LAKE – No persons were identified as getting bird flu as a result of an avian influenza outbreak in October at a commercial poultry operation near Moses Lake, reported the Grant County Health District.

In a Dec. 12 press release, local public health officials said the district and its state partners had completed all related response activities. Grant County’s first outbreak of bird flu was confirmed by the Washington Department of Agriculture, and the state Department of Health immediately responded to protect anyone who may have been exposed, the press statement said.

Responses included assessing potential exposures among workers, testing individuals with potential symptoms and providing antiviral medication when appropriate, and training workers on personal protective equipment.

“On behalf of GCHD, I would like to thank our partners at the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State Department of Health, the affected poultry farm, and the workers for their support and cooperation throughout this response,” said GCHD Theresa Adkinson. “Thanks to the quick action taken by each agency, our coordinated response was effective, timely, and well-organized.”

The risk to humans remains low, but people who have job-related or recreational interactions with infected birds or other animals are at higher risk of exposure and should take precautions.

Avian influenza is naturally occurring among wild aquatic birds, but the viruses can infect other birds and many animal species. In rare cases, bird flu can infect people and make them sick. Infected animals spread the virus through their saliva, mucus and feces. It is also found in the raw milk of infected dairy cattle.

Since 2022, there have been 72 confirmed human cases of bird flu reported in the United States and two confirmed deaths. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been identified in the U.S.  Data on human cases in Washington can be viewed here.

To minimize risk, health officials advise people to avoid contact with sick or dead birds, wild animals, or livestock, and frequently washing hands with soap and water if handling animals or anything in their environments. People should also thoroughly cook poultry, meat and eggs; avoid raw milk; and protect backyard poultry, livestock, and pets, including cats which are especially vulnerable.