H5N1 Outbreak in Colorado: Poultry Workers Infected

Federal and state investigators in Colorado are looking into an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu on a poultry farm, leading to four confirmed human cases. This incident marks the first human infections among U.S. poultry workers since 2022. The CDC is monitoring the situation closely but assures the public that the risk remains low.

Federal and state investigators in Colorado are probing an H5N1 bird flu outbreak on a poultry farm, resulting in four confirmed human cases and a suspected case. These are the first recorded instances in U.S. poultry workers since 2022. The H5N1 bird flu previously affected U.S. dairy cattle, infecting four farm workers since March.

The affected poultry workers were culling chickens at a commercial egg facility in northeast Colorado, the state reported. This situation is part of a global H5N1 bird flu outbreak impacting wild birds, poultry, and various mammals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on July 14 that a nine-member field team is assisting Colorado's investigation. The CDC stated that the risk to the general public remains low but is contingent on the outbreak's progression.

Ongoing genetic sequencing of the virus seeks to identify mutations indicating human adaptation. Workers who tested positive displayed mild symptoms like conjunctivitis, fever, and sore throat. More cases may emerge with continuous monitoring and testing.

Advance monitoring by bird flu experts highlights that poultry worker cases are less alarming than the dairy cow outbreak. Still, close tracking and DNA collection from infected workers and poultry are crucial for understanding the virus's spread and evolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)