A dairy farmworker in northeastern Colorado, who had direct exposure to sick cattle, was treated for a mild case of bird flu and has recovered, said state health officials. The male worker is the fourth person in the country — all employed on dairy farms — infected by the avian flu virus since the disease was identified in dairy cattle in Texas in late March.
The risk to the general population remains low, said the Centers for Disease Control. People with close or prolonged exposure to infected birds or other animals “are at a greater risk of infection” and should wear protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and goggles, it said.
“The adult male had mild symptoms, reporting only conjunctivitis [pink eye],” said the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. He was given antiviral medication, as recommended by the CDC, and recovered. “This case is an employee at a dairy farm in northeast Colorado who had direct exposure to dairy cattle infected with avian flu,” said the public health department.
Two dairy farmworkers in Michigan and one in Texas also have been diagnosed with mild cases of bird flu. All of them developed pink eye. One of the Michigan workers also had a cough.
“Avian flu viruses are currently spreading among animals, but they are not adapted to spread from person to person,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado state epidemiologist.
Bird flu has been confirmed in 27 dairy herds in Colorado, second to 28 herds in Idaho, out of 140 herds infected nationwide. The disease generally causes fever, a lessened appetite, and a sharp drop-off in milk production. Most cows recover after a couple of weeks.
Specimens from the Colorado farmworker tested positive for the H5 avian flu virus, said the CDC. Additional tests were ongoing to identify the subtype, it said last week.
Colorado public health officials said they provided personal protective equipment to the farm where the farmworker was employed, reported the Washington Post. No housemates of the worker became ill, she said.