A Colorado inmate has tested positive for bird flu, officials said Thursday, marking the first confirmed case in the United States of the current international outbreak of the virus.
State officials According to the Colorado Department of Public Health, the man was working in a pre-release program at a commercial poultry farm in Montrose County and had been in contact with infected birds.
A positive test was confirmed earlier this week following a nasal swab test. The result was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this Thursday.
To date, there are no further confirmed human cases of the new strain in the United States.
The infected man, who is “less than 40 years old”, is asymptomatic and only reports feeling fatigued and is currently in quarantine while he recovers.
The affected herd was “euthanized and disposed of,” CDPH said.
“We want to reassure Coloradans that the risk to them is low,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, a state epidemiologist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
“I am grateful for the seamless collaboration between the CDC, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Agriculture, and the CDPHE, as we continue to monitor this virus and protect all Coloradans,” he added.
The recluse is the second man worldwide to be infected with this particular strain of the virus after a person in the UK contracted the virus after coming into contact with infected birds in January.
Avian influenza has been detected in both wild animals and domestic birds, according to the department.