By IDSE News Staff
A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus infection in the United States was identified in Colorado, the CDC reported.
This is the fourth case associated with an ongoing multistate outbreak of H5N1 in dairy cows and the first in Colorado. One case was reported in Texas and two in Michigan, all were related to working with dairy cows. The latest case also involved a worker on a dairy farm where cows tested positive for A(H5N1) virus. The person reported eye symptoms only, received oseltamivir and has recovered, the CDC said.
Based on the information available at this time, this infection does not change CDC’s current H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. public, which the agency considers to be low.
However, this development underscores the importance of people with exposure to infected animals taking precautions to avoid infection. People with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals, including livestock, or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection.
Moreinformation about A(H5N1) is available.
