Becca Peter

That “vigilante blogger” in LuLaRich. My son Eddie died from an embryonal brain tumor in November 2023.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

My husband wrote the most wonderful post about Eddie and I wanted to share it on this site:

Grief is the price paid for love, and Eddie was loved deeply by a great many people. Our grief is acute and intensified by the wonderful individual Eddie was.

[Sergei Pond @sergeilkp]

Based on the 2024 Michigan & Colorado farmworker data and the 2026 WA genomes, two things are almost certainly true at once:

1. Genuine cow-to-human H5N1 IS undercounted.

In 2024 MI/CO serology, ~7% of exposed dairy workers had H5 antibodies—most had mild illness and were never PCR-tested. With 43 WA herds hit in ~4 weeks and real economic/immigration barriers to testing, 3 official cases is almost certainly an undercount.

2. Untested "severe avian flu symptoms" in November are heavily confounded by seasonal viruses.

There is no symptom that separates respiratory H5N1 from seasonal Flu A (H1N1/H3N2), COVID-19, or RSV: fever, cough, and body aches are generic immune responses. In 2024 CO/MI/CA farmworker testing, the vast majority of workers with systemic flu-like symptoms tested negative for H5N1 and positive for ordinary respiratory viruses.

3. Why exposure route matters (Cows vs. Human-to-Human).

• Cow-to-human (milking parlor): Human eye tissue carries "avian-type" (α2,3) receptors, while our upper airway carries "human-type" (α2,6) receptors. Raw-milk splash/aerosols hit the eye—making acute pinkeye (conjunctivitis), often without high fever, the signature B3.13 dairy worker symptom (>90% of US dairy cases).

• Both sequenced WA human H5N1 genomes sit directly inside the WA cattle cluster (2–4 SNPs from cows) with no fixed human-transmission sweep—pointing to independent cow-to-worker exposures, whereas fevers/coughs spreading between coworkers or households in November are more likely seasonal flu or other respiratory illnesses.

Low-barrier, confidential paired testing (both eye + nasal swabs on a multiplex panel) can separates H5 from seasonal Flu A, COVID & RSV.

Links in the reply...

https://t.co/ngJwoabiok

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

In Washington state we had 22 flu deaths in the first 4 weeks of flu season which is significantly higher than normal 😬

[Data Report @CovidDataReport]

Idaho health officials report second flu death https://t.co/Rt2tLRaOg9 #bonnersferryherald

[Jake Whittenberg @jwhittenbergK5]

Nick Shirley issuing a correction and apology for the story he shot in Seattle, that was misleading and inaccurate.

The videos have been removed from his account.
"I have not uncovered any evidence that Lam’s itself engaged in EBT fraud.”

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@AbraarKaran Washington state has a very good public health department, the issue here is workers not being tested at all due to well-founded fears of ICE.

If the state can get samples I’m sure they will be subtyped for H5, it’s the lack of samples that’s the problem.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@bobhounddog850 @TheNeedling The SRY test is an extremely rare test, try to keep up.

[Anna @Annatated]

Require masks in healthcare.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@seattletimes @komonews @KING5Seattle @KIRO7Seattle @fox13seattle @Mynorthwest

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

San Juan County has issued a declaration of a state of emergency due to the structural damage at the Orcas Island ferry terminal that is severely limiting access of goods and services.

They are asking @GovBobFerguson for support.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

https://t.co/WtaRjKPc9f

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

The state is powerless to stop ICE from targeting testing and other outreach events.

The workers are justified in their concerns about getting tested and seeking healthcare.

The state offers free PPE to farms. But I bet a lot of the owners are not using that resource.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

The Washington State Department of Health worked closely with this same community in 2024 when there were outbreaks in commercial poultry flocks. They continue to put out lots of information in Spanish and anyone can call and speak with someone in Spanish.

ICE is the problem.

[United Farm Workers @UFWupdates]

There is an active outbreak of avian flu (H5 influenza) in dairy herds in Washington State, particularly the Yakima Valley. A number of dairy workers have been infected, with at least one death. Speaking with workers, we believe the official case numbers are a vast undercount. 1/

[United Farm Workers @UFWupdates]

There is an active outbreak of avian flu (H5 influenza) in dairy herds in Washington State, particularly the Yakima Valley. A number of dairy workers have been infected, with at least one death. Speaking with workers, we believe the official case numbers are a vast undercount. 1/

[Outbreak Updates @outbreakupdates]

Two more children infected with H9N2 bird flu disclosed in China

A 9-year-old girl in Guangxi and a 7-year-old boy in Liaoning.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

No surprise, the tests did come back positive for bird flu 😞

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

Possible bird flu outbreak in Monroe, WA, about 25 miles NE of Seattle.

From @JackBilyeu @KIRO7Seattle

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@musiclover87701 If all three potential causes are not contagious to others, I don’t think they would care. My guess is they are mainly concerned about things like measles, chickenpox, HFM and ringworm. A parent could give the teacher and the school nurse a heads up.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

My daughter’s school sent this out today regarding when to keep kids home from school when sick.

I feel like this is better than most I have seen (but the bar is in hell).

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@Ninawildflower Only if you can otherwise participate in normal activities 😂

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@Bannef_ That wouldn’t be a rash of an unlnown origin though 🙂 It’s the mystery rashes they are worried about.

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@NEWSGUYSULLY 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@gay_witch98 The state requires the school to meet with the family after 10 excused absences but they don’t seem to check or enforce whether or not schools actually do. We’ve had lots of years with more than 10 and so far no meetings 🙈

[Becca Peter @DefectiveBecca]

@gay_witch98 My experience with our school district is that they have been generous about absences when there is communication from the family, but I’m sure it varies among districts.