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Colorado health officials report five human cases of bird flu in poultry workers
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Colorado health officials report five human cases of bird flu in poultry workers

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The state of Colorado is now reporting a total of five human cases of bird flu in poultry workers.

Four of these cases have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the other is presumptive positive and pending confirmation.

The workers are believed to have contracted the virus through direct work with infected poultry at a commercial egg farm in northeastern Colorado. The specific location has not yet been disclosed.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the workers had mild symptoms of bird flu, such as conjunctivitis and common symptoms of respiratory infection. None were hospitalized.

The first case was confirmed on July 3 and was the first human case of bird flu in Colorado since 2022, CDPHE said. On July 5, Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency in response to the initial outbreak.

On July 2, federal officials announced that the U.S. government will pay vaccine maker Moderna $176 million to accelerate the development of a pandemic influenza vaccine that could be used to treat avian flu in humans.

CDPHE says the risk to the general public remains low. It is safe to eat properly cooked and handled poultry products; proper cooking of poultry, meat, and eggs kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza viruses.

If you work with dairy cows or poultry that may have bird flu and begin to feel ill, you should seek medical attention. You can also call CDPHE at 303-692-2700.

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