4 cases of bird flu found in Colorado poultry workers; fifth case presumed

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Four human cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5 bird flu, have been confirmed in Colorado poultry workers, and health officials are presuming another worker also has the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all but one of the cases identified in northeastern Colorado have been among workers who were exposed to virus-infected poultry. One other case was confirmed in a dairy worker in northeastern Colorado.

According to the CDC, this brings the total number of confirmed infected workers in the U.S. to nine, with five in Colorado. The infected poultry workers are at an infected egg-laying farm with about 1.8 million chickens.

Gov. Jared Polis issued a disaster emergency declaration on July 5 for the H5N1 avian flu outbreak in Weld County. State health officials told FOX31’s Matt Mauro that all of the birds at the facility would be culled to prevent the spread of the virus.

The ongoing number of H5N1 cases has caused the CDC to send a nine-person team of multidisciplinary, bilingual epidemiologists, veterinarians, clinicians and an industrial hygienist to Colorado.

The CDC said all workers who tested positive reported mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis and eye tearing, as well as “more typical” flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, coughing, sore throat and runny nose.

Although these are the first cases of H5 bird flu in humans since 2022, the CDC believes the risk to the public is still low. The cases underscore the risk of exposure to infected animals, the agency said.

Stay away from infected animals

Even as more cases are identified, the CDC said its guidance for the virus has remained unchanged.

The bird-borne virus can be transmitted to cattle and humans but has also been found in other mammals. According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of the virus are primarily respiratory, but the most recent human case involved pink eye.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, it is safe to drink pasteurized milk and eat “properly handled and cooked dairy, beef, and poultry products,” because the process kills bacteria and viruses, including avian flu.

The state health agency is also reminding Coloradans not to touch dead or sick animals, but if it’s unavoidable:

• Wear personal protective equipment including a N95 respirator, eye protection and gloves
• Wash hands with soap and water afterward
• If there’s no soap and water available, use an alcohol-based hand rub

If you work with dairy cows that may have the avian flu and start to feel ill, CDPHE encourages you to call 303-692-2700 during regular business hours, or 303-370-9395 outside of those hours.

H5N1 must be reported to the Colorado Veterinarian’s Office. There is also an emergency rule enacted for mandatory testing of lactating dairy cattle moving interstate.

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