The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will review the test results and send a team to Colorado to investigate how the worker contracted the virus. said on FridayThe CDC will also sequence the virus to see if it has mutated.
The virus spread among dairy cows and poultry this spring and summer, but is unlikely to spread from person to person, so the risk to the general public is low, but if it mutates and becomes more susceptible to person-to-person transmission, the risk could increase, making the virus “potentially pandemic” and raising concerns about human cases, the CDC said.
“These preliminary results reiterate the risk of contact with infected animals,” the CDC said. “Historically, most cases of avian influenza have occurred among people not wearing recommended personal protective equipment.”
The agency’s low-risk assessment for the general public remains unchanged after the suspected cases were reported. The CDC said Friday that it has seen no signs of increased influenza activity in states with poultry or cattle outbreaks.
The three suspected cases are the first confirmed cases in the United States resulting from contact with infected birds. Confirmed All of the cases this spring occurred in people who had contact with cows, first in dairy workers in Texas, then in Michigan and 4th time this month A dairy farm worker in Colorado.
The three newly infected workers developed cold symptoms and conjunctivitis but none were hospitalized, according to state health officials. Four other infected workers also reported eye irritation and conjunctivitis.
The avian flu outbreak has affected more than 99 million poultry birds and 151 dairy herds in the U.S. The CDC reports that the virus has also been detected in more than 9,500 wild birds. Latest Count.
Outbreaks have been confirmed in poultry across the country, and outbreaks have been confirmed in dairy cattle in 12 states. last monthAccording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the virus has been detected in poultry flocks in Colorado, Iowa and Minnesota.
The Federal Government offered The U.S. government is also considering offering money to dairy farmers who have infected cows in exchange for testing their cattle, incentivizing testing and safety measures that will help curb the spread of the disease. Avian flu vaccine It said a vaccine could be available as early as this month and has provided funding to Moderna Inc. to develop an mRNA-based vaccine.
The federal government’s initial response Slow and fragmented The move has frustrated some officials and experts, some of whom have called for more extensive testing of cattle, The Washington Post reported in April.
The CDC says people should avoid contact with sick or dead animals, including birds and cattle, and avoid animal feces and garbage. Colorado officials recommend that people who become ill after handling potentially infected cattle or poultry contact their doctor or state health department.
Proper cooking kills the bird flu virus. Health officials say it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry and eggs. Commercially available milk is pasteurized and Considered safeHowever, the CDC recommends avoiding unpasteurized, or raw, milk.
