The Colorado Department of Health announced on Sunday that five cases of bird flu have been identified among workers involved in culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado. This outbreak is part of a wider H5N1 spread that has also affected wild birds and dairy cows across several states. Initially, three cases were confirmed on Friday, with a fourth and a fifth case subsequently confirmed and presumed positive, respectively.
The affected workers contracted the virus while handling infected birds, experiencing mild symptoms such as conjunctivitis and respiratory issues, though none required hospitalization. The state health department has confirmed that all necessary tests have been completed, with no further results pending.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sent a team to assist with the investigation, maintaining that the risk to the general public remains low despite the outbreak. They noted that there has been no significant increase in flu activity in Colorado or other states impacted by the H5 bird flu.
Previously, four individuals in the United States, associated with dairy operations, had tested positive for the bird flu, with cases reported in Texas, Michigan, and one other in Colorado. The outbreak has notably affected Colorado’s agricultural sector, prompting Governor Jared Polis to declare a disaster emergency on July 5 to support affected farms in Weld County.
The health department assures that poultry products remain safe for consumption when properly handled and cooked. The CDC advises the public to avoid prolonged exposure to sick or dead animals and their environments and recommends against consuming raw or unpasteurized milk.
The recent identification of bird flu in a dairy cattle herd in Oklahoma marks an expansion of the outbreak to other states, highlighting the ongoing challenge of managing H5N1 across different agricultural sectors.
