By The newspaper
15 Jul 2024, 01:02 AM EDT
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported new cases of bird flu, this time in Colorado, bringing the total number of infections in the United States to nine since the first human case of the current outbreak was detected in 2022.
The workers had symptoms of red, irritated eyes and common respiratory infection symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat and runny nose. None were hospitalized, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a statement.
Workers had contact with infected birds
According to the CDC, workers were slaughtering infected poultry at a farm in northeastern Colorado, and then began exhibiting the symptoms mentioned above.
An avian flu virus has been spreading since 2020 among mammals (including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises) in dozens of countries, The Associated Press reported.
Earlier this year, the virus, known as H5N1, was detected in cattle in the United States and is now circulating among cattle in several states.
Unlikely to spread from person to person
The virus, which has caused outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry, has posed a low risk to the general public because it is unlikely to spread from person to person. However, authorities are keeping a close watch because previous versions of the same virus have been fatal to people.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent a nine-person team to Colorado to assist with the investigation at the state’s request, AP said.
“These preliminary results again underscore the risk of exposure to infected animals,” the CDC said in the statement. “Historically, most human cases of avian influenza infection have occurred in people who were not wearing the recommended personal protective equipment.”
99 million birds affected
The virus detected in the four latest cases is at least partially identical to the type found in earlier cases in the United States, but further genetic analysis is being done to make sure it is exactly the same, officials said.
The bird flu outbreak has affected more than 99 million poultry and 151 dairy herds in the United States. The virus has also been detected in more than 9,500 wild birds, according to the latest CDC count.
Cases of bird flu earlier this year occurred among dairy farm workers in Michigan, Texas and Colorado.
Keep reading:
- US rules out risk of bird flu pandemic for now
- Bird flu exposed: 5 keys to understanding its global reach
- Bird flu in the United States: These are the symptoms of the disease