Colorado Reports First Human Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in 2024, Fourth in US

Jul 3, 2024, 07:00 PM

Colorado has reported its first human case of H5N1 bird flu in 2024, marking the fourth human case in the U.S. this year. The infected individual is a dairy farm worker who experienced mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis and eye inflammation, and has recovered. This case is linked to an ongoing outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cattle, with Colorado experiencing the highest number of affected herds in the past month, totaling 23. Previous human cases were reported in Texas and Michigan. The CDC has confirmed the infection and emphasized the need for precautions among people with animal exposures. Public health agencies are also increasingly relying on veterinarians to monitor potential human cases.