Three cases of bird flu have been identified among workers at a commercial egg operation in northeast Colorado, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The workers had mild symptoms including conjunctivitis or pink eye and respiratory problems but none were hospitalized.
The investigation into these cases is ongoing with support from a team sent by the CDC at the state's request. No additional test results are pending for these cases.
Four other people in the US have previously tested positive for bird flu, all of whom were workers at dairy operations. The virus, known as H5N1, was first identified in 1996 and has rapidly spread around the world since 2020 affecting over 99 million birds in the US alone.
Avian influenza (H5N1) is a type of flu virus primarily adapted to birds. The virus infecting farmworkers was first identified in China in 1996 and reported in people for the first time in Hong Kong in 1997. A new form of H5N1, which surfaced in Europe in 2020, has rapidly spread around the world.
The CDC continues to characterize the threat to the general public as low and there are no signs of unexpected increases in flu activity otherwise in Colorado or other states affected by bird flu outbreaks. However, experts advise against close or long exposure to sick or dead animals, animal poop, bedding, and consumption of unpasteurized or raw milk due to potential contamination.
The CDC advises that everyone avoid direct contact with infected birds and wear personal protective equipment including masks, safety goggles and gloves when handling poultry. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also recommends that people avoid visiting live poultry markets or exhibits where live birds are present.
The CDC is working closely with state health departments to monitor the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
