At least four poultry workers in Colorado have contracted bird flu and are experiencing mild symptoms, the state’s health department announced Sunday.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed four cases, with a fifth worker presumed to be positive for the flu.
The affected workers were culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado and showed mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis (pink eye) and common respiratory infection symptoms, according to state health officials. State epidemiologists believe the cases are due to direct contact with infected poultry.
None of the five workers with bird flu have been hospitalized, and their cases are currently being investigated by the CDC.
Despite the outbreaks, Colorado health officials assured that it is safe to eat properly cooked poultry. “Proper handling and cooking of poultry, meat, and eggs kill bacteria and viruses, including avian flu viruses,” they said.
This announcement brings the total number of bird flu infections in the US since 2022 to nine, with eight of those occurring this year.
The virus, which has impacted mammals and birds since 2020, has been spreading across the US this year, affecting both poultry and cattle farms.
The CDC stated 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 noted. However, it described the human cases as “concerning” due to their “pandemic potential.”
“If these viruses were to mutate to spread easily from person to person, it could trigger a pandemic. However, to date, we have not seen genetic changes in the virus that would increase the likelihood of human transmission,” the CDC added.
Moderna announced earlier this month that it received $176 million from the U.S. government to begin trials for an mRNA H5N1 bird flu vaccine.