Public health officials in Colorado announced an adult man had tested positive for avian flu after reporting mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis, or pink eye.
The man is an employee at a dairy farm who had exposure to infected cattle and recovered after antiviral treatment, officials said.
It was the fourth human case of bird flu reported in the U.S. since avian flu was confirmed in cows in March. The prior three people to test positive were also dairy farm workers who recovered.
The first two workers to contract the virus had mild pink eye. In the third case, the worker had mild respiratory symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the Colorado case in a statement and said the risk to the general public from bird flu remains low, although people with exposure to infected animals are at greater risk.
The virus has infected cows at 139 farms in 12 U.S. states, according to the USDA. Colorado has had 27 of those outbreaks.
Moderna was recently awarded a $176 million government contract to advance development of its human bird flu vaccine as concerns rise over a multi-state outbreak of H5N1 virus in dairy cows.
The USDA is conducting its own research, as well as soliciting information from about two dozen companies on a potential bird flu vaccine for cattle, although the agency has said it hopes to eliminate the virus from dairy herds without the use of a vaccine.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
As promised, the CAG is keeping you informed as this unfortunate story continues to unfold. As much as we would all like to see it end quickly for all involved, that now seems to be a distant dream. The disease is now creating more concern about human health consequences, as evidenced by a $176 million dollar contract with drug researcher and producer, Moderna. Poultry and dairy producers continue to battle the disease in several states. Millions of poultry were destroyed as a result of H5N1. Dairy herds seem to be getting by with small reductions in output. Be sure to continue reaching out to your ag customers and let them know you care about their well-being. This might be a great time for that special deal on parts and/or service to the dairy and poultry producers in your area.
