ATLANTA, Georgia: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that Colorado has reported three presumptive cases of the H5 bird flu virus in poultry workers. These workers, who were involved in culling infected animals at a poultry facility experiencing an H5N1 outbreak, showed mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis (pink eye) and common respiratory infection symptoms. None of the affected individuals were hospitalized.
State epidemiologists believe the infections resulted from contact with infected poultry. The CDC is dispatching a team to Colorado to support the investigation, emphasizing that the risk to the general public remains low. Human infections with H5N1 are concerning due to the potential for severe disease and the risk of the virus evolving to spread easily between people, which could potentially spark a pandemic.
This incident is part of a widespread H5N1 bird flu outbreak affecting wild birds, poultry, various mammals, and causing an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows. The CDC noted there are no signs of unexpected increases in flu activity in Colorado or other states impacted by H5 bird flu outbreaks.
Preliminary tests by Colorado officials indicate that the three workers were infected with a novel type of influenza, presumed to be bird flu. Samples have been sent to the CDC for confirmation. If confirmed, these would be the fourth case of bird flu in Colorado and the seventh in the U.S. since March.
The CDC stated that the findings from this investigation will help determine if changes to current guidance are necessary. Analysis of the virus sequences from this outbreak will also be crucial in assessing any change in risk. The CDC’s recommendations for H5N1 remain unchanged, urging people to avoid close, prolonged, or unprotected exposure to sick or dead animals, animal feces, litter, unpasteurized or milk, or materials in contact with animals suspected or confirmed to have bird flu.
