Suspected Cases of Avian Flu Among Poultry Workers in Colorado

The health authorities of the state of Colorado have confirmed three suspected cases of avian influenza among poultry workers. The individuals, who work on a poultry farm in the northeastern part of the state, tested preliminarily positive for the H5N1 virus. These cases remain unconfirmed as the samples are currently being sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for final analysis. The workers were involved in the culling of infected birds and had direct contact with the animals. Reported symptoms include conjunctivitis and general respiratory illnesses. Despite the detected infection cases, the risk to the general population remains low according to health authorities' assessments. To date, four infections with the H5N1 virus have been identified in the U.S.: one case in Colorado, another in Texas, and two in Michigan. All affected individuals had direct contact with infected dairy cows. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the virus is easily transmissible from person to person. A CDC team has been dispatched to Colorado to support the investigations. Among other tasks, the team will verify whether the workers wore appropriate personal protective equipment. Farmworkers are generally advised to wear protective gear such as masks, goggles, and gloves, although they are not mandated to do so. "These preliminary results highlight once again the risk of contact with infected animals," said a CDC spokesperson. No unexpected increases in influenza activities have been reported in Colorado or other affected states so far. Avian influenza, which primarily occurs in birds, was first identified in China in 1996 and appeared in humans for the first time in Hong Kong in 1997. The latest variant of the H5N1 virus has been emerging in Europe since 2020 and has spread worldwide. In the U.S. alone, over 99 million birds are affected. Since March, the virus has increasingly spread among dairy cattle herds, with 152 herds in twelve states having been infected to date. Additionally, the virus has been detected in various animal species, including marine mammals like seals and dolphins, as well as skunks, squirrels, and domestic cats.