At least four poultry workers in Colorado have contracted bird flu and are experiencing mild symptoms, according to the state’s health department.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed four cases, with a fifth worker presumed positive for the flu.
The workers were handling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado and exhibited mild symptoms such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) and common respiratory infection symptoms. State health officials believe these cases are due to direct contact with infected poultry.
None of the five infected workers were hospitalized, and their cases are currently under investigation by the CDC.
Despite the outbreaks, Colorado health officials assured that it is safe to eat properly cooked poultry. Proper cooking of poultry, meat, and eggs kills bacteria and viruses, including avian flu viruses.
This latest news brings the total number of bird flu infections in the US since 2022 to nine, with eight of those cases occurring this year.
The virus, which has been affecting mammals and birds since 2020, has been spreading across the US this year, impacting both poultry and cattle farms.
The CDC mentioned on Friday that the “current risk assessment for the general public remains low.”
“There are no signs of unexpected increases in flu activity in Colorado or other states affected by H5 bird flu outbreaks in cows and poultry,” the CDC stated. However, it called the human cases “concerning” because of their “pandemic potential.”
“If these viruses were to mutate and spread easily from person-to-person, it could trigger a pandemic, though, we have not seen genetic changes in the virus that would make it more likely to transmit between humans,” the agency explained.
Earlier this month, Moderna announced it received $176 million from the U.S. government to begin trials for an mRNA H5N1 bird flu vaccine.