The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday reported the fourth human case of bird flu linked to the ongoing outbreak in dairy cows in the country, marking the first such case reported in Colorado.
All four cases were reported in people working on dairy farms where cows tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus. Since March, two cases have been identified in Michigan and one case identified in Texas. The cases are not related, the CDC said.
The Colorado man, like the first two human patients, reported only symptoms of pink eye, which the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said. described as “light”. In the third case, identified in Michigan in late May, the person presented with respiratory symptoms, including a cough without fever and eye discomfort with watery discharge.
The Colorado patient took the antiviral drug Tamiflu and recovered, the CDC said.
The CDC said the risk to the general public remains low. There is a greater risk, however, for people with “close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals,” according to the CDC.
“The risk for most people remains low,” CDPHE State Epidemiologist Rachel Herlihy said in a statement. “Avian flu viruses are currently spreading among animals, but they are not adapted to spread from person to person. Right now, the most important thing to know is that people who have regular exposure to infected animals are at greater risk of infection and should take precautions when in contact with sick animals.”
The Coloradoan was being monitored, as he is a rural worker who was exposed to infected cattle. He reported his symptoms to state health officials, who performed inconclusive tests. The CDC performed tests that came back positive.
The CDC has been monitoring states’ flu surveillance systems, “and there have been no signs of unusual flu activity in people, including in syndromic surveillance,” according to the CDC.
Still, health authorities are warning the public to be vigilant and not drink only pasteurized milk and eat only “properly handled and cooked dairy products, beef and poultry.” CDPHE warned Coloradans not to touch sick or dead animals. If necessary, CDPHE said, people should wear personal protective equipment, including an N95 respirator, eye protection and gloves.
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