New human bird flu cases confirmed in Colorado

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FOUR NEW CASES OF BIRD FLU IN HUMANS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN COLORADO, MEANING AT LEAST NINE PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN ILL SINCE THE CURRENT OUTBREAK WAS DISCOVERED IN 2022. 

8 OF THOSE 9 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN 2024. 

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THOSE NEWS CASES ONLY HAD MILD SYMPTOMS – MUCH LIKE ALL THE OTHER CASES – AND DID NOT HAVE TO BE HOSPITALIZED. 

A FIFTH PERSON WITH SYMPTOMS IS ALSO UNDERGOING TESTING – BUT HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED TO HAVE BIRD FLU YET. 

BIRD FLU HAS BEEN SPREADING AMONG MAMMALS ACROSS THE WORLD SINCE 2020 – MOSTLY IN DOGS, CATS, SKUNKS AND BEARS…

BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE H5N1 STRAIN WAS FOUND IN CATTLE IN THE U.S. AND HAS BEEN CIRCULATING IN SEVERAL STATES. 

THE CASES EARLIER THIS YEAR WERE ALL AMONG DAIRY FARM WORKERS, BUT THE FOUR NEW CASES HAVE BEEN LINKED TO POULTRY FARM WORKERS IN COLORADO.

THE CDC HAS CONFIRMED CASES OF THE H5N1 VIRUS IN MORE THAN 150 DAIRY HERDS IN 12 STATES AND MORE THAN 30 COMMERCIAL POULTRY FLOCKS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF BIRD FLU, AS WELL.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE RISK TO THE PUBLIC IS STILL LOW – AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO CASES OF PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION.

HEALTH EXPERTS SAY IT IS STILL SAFE TO DRINK MILK AND EAT POULTRY AND EGGS – BUT MAKE SURE THEY’RE FULLY COOKED FIRST.