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Dr. John Aristi-Sanz of the Sabeti Laboratory at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, tests milk from local grocery stores for avian flu.
CNN
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New cases of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 have been reported. Identified The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the outbreak in Colorado on Friday.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Said Five human cases of avian influenza were announced Sunday among poultry workers who are believed to have contracted the virus through direct contact with infected birds, with the latest case coming from another worker in the same cluster.
The workers were involved in bird culling operations, which are carried out to curb the spread of the disease by selectively removing or killing infected animals. The CDC said the six infected workers had mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis and respiratory problems, and all were given antiviral medication.
Genetic sequencing of a sample from one of the Colorado cases found a close link to the first human case of avian flu found in Michigan, suggesting the virus has not undergone changes due to antiviral drug resistance, the agency said. The findings are “reassuring,” the agency said Friday.
A CDC field team, including epidemiologists, veterinarians, clinicians and industrial hygienists, is assisting Colorado in investigating the outbreak.
According to the CDC, 10 human cases of avian influenza have been reported in the United States since April, including four linked to contact with sick dairy cows and six linked to infected poultry. Friday’s confirmations include the latest case in Colorado.
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Since April, 18.32 million birds in 34 commercial and 16 home flocks have been infected with the virus. The USDA also reports an increase in the number of infected cattle, with 157 dairy herds in 13 states now infected.
The organizations say they are working to address the ongoing “public health challenge” posed by avian influenza outbreaks in multiple states. As part of this effort, the full sequence of the detected virus is being made publicly available for analysis by researchers in the U.S. and around the world.
As for humans, the CDC’s risk assessment for the general public remains low.
According to the Colorado Department of Health, poultry products are safe to eat if they are properly handled and cooked. To tellThe CDC recommends avoiding close contact or prolonged exposure to sick or dead animals, animal feces, or bedding. Consume unpasteurized or raw milk Because of the possibility of contamination.
