LOS ANGELES: US health officials said on Tuesday that four new human cases of bird flu have been reported, raising the total number of infections to eight. The latest cases include farm workers employed at the same poultry facility, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The affected persons reported symptoms including conjunctivitis and flu-like illness. The CDC is also investigating a fifth potential case, which has yet to be confirmed through analysis.
The outbreak is part of a larger epidemic of bird flu detected in the United States during the spring. Initially affecting primarily poultry and birds, the virus has recently been identified in cattle, leading to human infections. The first human case involving transmission from a cow was reported on April 1 in Texas. Subsequent cases were reported in Michigan, with another case identified in early July in Colorado. Colorado is now experiencing the spread of the disease among both livestock and poultry.
Despite these developments, the CDC reassured the public that the risk to the general population remains low. However, the agency has emphasized the importance of precautions for individuals working with infected animals.
Experts are increasingly concerned about the rise in mammal infections, noting that while human cases are still rare, the high circulation of the virus among different species increases the risk of a mutation that could facilitate human-to-human transmission.
The CDC has renewed its call for stringent safety measures for workers in contact with infected cows or poultry, aiming to prevent further spread of the virus and protect public health.
In response to the outbreak, affected farms and facilities are implementing biosecurity measures to control the spread among livestock and poultry. These measures include quarantine protocols, enhanced surveillance, and vaccination efforts where applicable.
