In the latest update on the bird flu outbreak, health officials have confirmed that four poultry workers in Colorado have been diagnosed with the virus. This brings the total number of cases in the United States to nine since the first human case was detected in Colorado in 2022. All four workers were involved in culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado and had direct contact with infected birds.

The symptoms exhibited by the affected workers were relatively mild, including reddened and irritated eyes, as well as common respiratory infection symptoms such as fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, and runny nose. Fortunately, none of them required hospitalization.

While a fifth person with symptoms is currently being tested, officials are awaiting the results to confirm whether it is another case of bird flu. However, health officials continue to emphasize that the overall risk to the general public remains low as the virus has not yet spread between humans.

To aid in the investigation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dispatched a nine-person team to Colorado at the request of state authorities. The CDC team will work alongside state health officials to gather more information about the outbreak and monitor its progression.

Earlier this year, bird flu cases were reported among dairy farm workers in Michigan, Texas, and Colorado. The virus identified in the latest cases shares similarities with the previous cases detected in the United States. Further genetic analysis is currently underway to determine if it is the same strain.

In addition to its impact on poultry and mammals, including dogs, cats, skunks, bears, seals, and porpoises, the bird flu virus, known as H5N1, has also been detected in U.S. livestock. The virus is now circulating in cattle in several states.

As of Friday, the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in 152 dairy herds across 12 states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Furthermore, more than 30 states have reported cases of H5N1 or other types of bird flu in commercial poultry flocks.

While health officials stress that the current risk to the public remains low, they continue to closely monitor the situation due to the potential severity of earlier versions of the virus. The ongoing investigation and surveillance efforts aim to mitigate the spread of bird flu and protect both animal and human health.

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