Denver: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dispatched a nine-member field team to Colorado to assist the state in managing a bird flu outbreak affecting both humans and poultry. Colorado confirmed four infections and a suspected fifth case on Sunday.
In a statement dated July 14, the CDC outlined that its team comprises epidemiologists, veterinarians, clinicians, and an industrial hygienist. Their primary objective is to support Colorado’s assessment of the outbreak and the human cases. Despite the situation, the CDC has reassured the public that current information suggests the risk remains low.
Regarding flu activity, the CDC noted no unexpected increases in Colorado or other states affected by bird flu outbreaks in livestock. In northeast Colorado, workers have begun culling chickens at a commercial egg facility where the bird flu outbreak occurred, although the specific facility was not disclosed by state officials.
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According to Colorado’s agriculture department, an avian flu outbreak was reported on July 8 at a 1.8 million-bird egg farm in Weld County. State health officials observed mild symptoms among farm workers, ranging from conjunctivitis to respiratory signs. Notably, these are the first reported cases in poultry workers in the United States since 2022.
The CDC emphasized ongoing genetic sequencing of the virus to identify any potential mutations that could affect risk assessment.
