More northeastern Colorado poultry workers infected with bird flu

By Sara Wilson

Colorado health officials identified two more cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza — bird flu — in humans over the weekend, bringing the case count in the state to seven people who worked with inflected birds.

A worker at a northeast Colorado commercial egg layer in Weld County, where five other cases occurred, was confirmed sick on Friday. On Saturday, officials identified another presumptive positive case in a worker at a separate poultry farm in Weld County.

Another Colorado resident contracted the virus from infected cattle earlier this month.

The cluster of cases, comprising eight people in Colorado, accounts for most of the bird flu cases in humans in the country.

The recently infected workers were dealing directly with infected poultry and experienced mild symptoms such as pink eye and respiratory infection symptoms. Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said last week that heat could have prevented proper use of personal protective equipment, exposing the workers to the virus.

Thirteen counties in Colorado have at least one poultry flock with a bird flu outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weld County has 12 affected flocks, accounting for over 9 million birds. There have also been 28 cattle herds with confirmed cases in Colorado, according to the USDA.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry products, as the proper handling and cooking of meat and eggs kills viruses. The risk of bird flu to the general public is low and there has not been evidence of the virus spreading from person to person.

Colorado Newsline is part of the States Newsroom, a network of similar news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.