CDC Issues Alert Over Bird Flu Case: Colorado Farmworker Infected and Recovered

Health officials have confirmed a case of bird flu in a farmworker in Colorado, marking the fourth person in the U.S. to be infected with the virus. The worker had direct contact with infected dairy cows on a farm in northeast Colorado, leading to the development of bird flu.

Symptoms and Treatment

The infected man experienced mild symptoms and reported having pink eye. Following guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he received antiviral treatment and successfully recovered from the illness.

Risk Assessment

State epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy emphasized that while the risk of bird flu for the general public remains low, individuals who have regular exposure to infected animals may face a heightened risk of infection. She stated that avian flu viruses are not adapted to spread from person to person, therefore minimizing the risk to most people.

"The most important thing to know is that people who have regular exposure to infected animals are at increased risk of infection and should take precautions when they have contact with sick animals," Dr. Herlihy advised.

Previous Cases and Detection

Earlier cases of human infection linked to cows were reported in dairy workers in Texas and Michigan, with symptoms including pink eye and mild respiratory issues. Notably, the first U.S. case of bird flu in 2022 was identified in a Colorado farmworker exposed to infected poultry.

Writer Information

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, is based in Orlando, Florida, and is a native of Massachusetts. Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten.