A farm worker in Colorado has been diagnosed with the country’s fourth human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The man experienced conjunctivitis or pink eye after working on a farm where dairy cattle tested positive for H5N1, or bird flu. Public health officials have stated that the risk to most people remains low as avian flu viruses are not adapted to spread from person to person.
Across the United States, bird flu has been reported in 139 dairy herds in a dozen states, with Colorado being one of the affected states. Two other dairy farm workers in Michigan and one in Texas have also been diagnosed with H5N1 this year. The outbreak in the poultry industry has led to more than 97 million positive cases in 48 states.
The response to bird flu differs between dairy cows and poultry flocks, as the latter are culled after a diagnosis. The USDA has initiated a voluntary program for dairy farmers to test bulk milk tanks, aimed at facilitating the transportation of cows across state lines. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has allocated $176 million to Moderna for the development of a vaccine to protect individuals against the virus.
This recent case underscores the importance of taking precautions when working with infected animals and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by farmers and public health officials in containing the spread of avian influenza in the country.
Source
Photo credit kansasreflector.com