Health Officials Confirm Four New Bird Flu Cases in Colorado Poultry Workers

Health officials have confirmed four new cases of bird flu among poultry workers in Colorado. These cases bring the total number of human infections in the U.S. to nine since the current outbreak began in 2022. The first case was also detected in a Colorado poultry worker.

Eight of these nine cases have been reported this year. The affected individuals have experienced relatively mild symptoms, including reddened and irritated eyes, fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, and runny nose. None of the individuals required hospitalization. A fifth person, who is displaying symptoms, is currently undergoing testing, with results pending.

The recent infections occurred among workers culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado. All workers had direct contact with infected birds. State health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the outbreak. The CDC has dispatched a nine-person team to assist in the investigation at the state’s request.

Bird flu, particularly the H5N1 strain, has been spreading among various mammal species worldwide since 2020, including dogs, cats, skunks, bears, seals, and porpoises. This year, the virus has been detected in U.S. livestock and is circulating in cattle across several states. Despite these developments, health officials continue to assess the risk to the general public as low, noting that the virus has not yet spread between humans. However, they remain vigilant due to the potential severity of earlier versions of the virus in humans.

The virus found in the recent cases is at least partly identical to the strain found in previous U.S. cases, although further genetic analysis is underway to confirm its exact nature.

According to the U.S. Agriculture Department, as of Friday, H5N1 has been confirmed in 152 dairy herds across 12 states. Additionally, hundreds of commercial poultry flocks in over 30 states have reported cases of H5N1 or other bird flu strains.

The newly reported cases are part of a broader concern over the ongoing spread of bird flu among both animals and humans. Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and implementing measures to contain the virus and prevent further transmission.