Colorado Department of Agriculture or news reports

Colorado Declares State of Emergency Over Bird Flu Outbreak, Culls 1.8 Million Chickens

Jul 13, 2024, 01:25 AM

Colorado is facing a significant H5N1 bird flu outbreak, prompting Governor Jared Polis to declare a state of emergency. The outbreak has affected a large poultry farm in Weld County, leading to the culling of 1.8 million chickens. Additionally, three poultry workers have tested presumptively positive for the H5N1 virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is involved in confirming these cases. The outbreak is part of a larger national issue, with H5N1 detected in 142 dairy herds across 12 states, including recent detections in Michigan and Minnesota. Michigan's 26th herd and Colorado's 35th herd have been affected. The poultry farm in Weld County houses 1.7 million birds. This marks the fourth person linked to the outbreak.