H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak Hits 35 Dairy Herds, 1.8M Birds, and Five Workers in Colorado

Jul 15, 2024, 02:16 AM

An outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been detected in livestock such as dairy cows and other mammals in the United States, including a small number of humans. In Colorado, the virus has been confirmed in 35 dairy herds, affecting 1,790,800 birds, which accounts for 22% of all Colorado birds impacted by the flu during the outbreak. Five workers involved in culling poultry at a commercial egg-laying farm in northeast Colorado have shown mild symptoms of bird flu, including pink eye and respiratory issues. State officials are conducting further tests to confirm their infection. The CDC has stated that the risk to the general public remains low. Experts are urging for increased testing and preventive measures to control the spread of the virus among humans and livestock.