Four poultry workers in Colorado have been diagnosed with bird flu, health officials confirmed on Sunday.
New Cases Raise US Bird Flu Total to 9
These new cases raise the total number of U.S. cases to nine since the first human case of the current outbreak was identified in 2022, also involving a poultry worker in Colorado. Eight of the nine cases have been recorded this year.
The affected people encountered mild manifestations, including reddened and irritated eyes, and common respiratory disease manifestations such as fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, and runny nose. None required hospitalization, officials noted. The other U.S. cases have also been mild.
A fifth person showing symptoms is currently being tested, with results pending, officials added. The workers were involved in culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado and had direct contact with contaminated birds, according to state health officials.
Since 2020, a bird flu virus, known as H5N1, has been escalating among mammals - including dogs, cats, skunks, bears, and even seals and porpoises - in many countries. Earlier this year, the virus was noticed in U.S. livestock and is now present in cattle in various states.
Health officials continue to evaluate the danger to the general public as low, noting that the germ has not increased between people. However, they stay cautious as earlier versions of the germ have been fatal to humans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sent a nine-person team to Colorado to help with the inspection at the state's request, CDC officials reported.
Earlier this year, cases were reported among dairy farm workers in Michigan, Texas, and Colorado.
Genetic Analysis Underway to Confirm Recent Bird Flu Strain's Identity
The germ discovered in the four current cases is at least partly identical to the strain found in earlier U.S. cases, though further genetic analysis is ongoing to verify its accurate identity, officials declared.
As of Friday, the H5N1 germ has been verified in 152 dairy herds across 12 states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Hundreds of commercial poultry flocks in over 30 states have recorded H5N1 or other types of bird flu.
Since March, there have been four verified human cases of bird flu in the U.S., all among farmworkers: two in Michigan, one in Texas, and one in Colorado, according to the CDC.
In the Colorado case, a farmworker developed pink eye after direct contact with avian flu-infected cattle, as reported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed bird flu outbreaks in 152 cattle herds this year.
The CDC stated that the public risk from bird flu remains low, with no indications of unexpected increases in flu activity in Colorado or other affected states. However, it noted that human infections with this novel influenza virus could pose serious health risks.
Federal officials are assessing the timing for deploying 4.8 million doses of bird flu vaccine. Last month, Finland declared it would give vaccinations to workers who may be exposed to the virus.
Related Article: Colorado Reports Three Presumptive Bird Flu Cases in Poultry Workers
