CNN
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5 circumstances of chicken flu have been recognized amongst staff culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado, the state division of well being said on Sunday. The industrial egg operation was impacted by H5N1 outbreaks which have additionally affected wild birds and dairy cows in a number of states.
Three of the 5 human circumstances had been announced Friday, and all of these have now been confirmed by the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. A fourth case was additionally confirmed, and a fifth is presumed constructive based mostly on state testing. The Colorado Division of Public Well being and Atmosphere mentioned in an announcement on Sunday that no extra check outcomes are pending.
The employees are believed to have caught the virus by way of direct work with contaminated birds. They’d gentle signs together with conjunctivitis or pink eye and respiratory issues, however none of them had been hospitalized, the state mentioned Sunday.
The investigation into the circumstances is ongoing with help of a group despatched by CDC on the state’s request.
The CDC mentioned Friday its danger evaluation for most people stays low. “There aren’t any indicators of sudden will increase in flu exercise in any other case in Colorado or in different states affected by H5 chicken flu outbreaks in cows and poultry,” it mentioned.
4 individuals within the US had beforehand examined constructive for chicken flu in reference to the continuing outbreak: one in Colorado, one in Texas and two in Michigan. All had been staff at dairy operations. Colorado’s agriculture business has been hit onerous by chicken flu, with Gov. Jared Polis declaring a catastrophe emergency July 5 to make sure that the state can supply help and sources for farms in Weld County.
Poultry merchandise are nonetheless fit for human consumption if they’ve been correctly dealt with and cooked, the Colorado well being division mentioned. The CDC advises that everybody keep away from shut or lengthy publicity to sick or useless animals, animal poop or bedding. Specialists additionally suggest in opposition to consuming unpasteurized or raw milk because of the potential for contamination.
CNN’s Katherine Dillinger contributed to this report.