Human cases of bird flu are high in the United States

Bird flu continues to spread in the United States. After new outbreaks on cattle farms, there are now more cases in humans. However, the CDC assures the public that the risk is low.

US officials report more cases of bird flu in humans. The CDC reports that four workers at a poultry farm in Colorado have been diagnosed with the virus. A fifth worker is suspected, but the results of the investigation are still pending.

Sufferers described conjunctivitis and fever-like symptoms, but the infections were mild. The CDC sent a team to Colorado to support the investigation.

According to new information from the authorities, the number of cases of bird flu in humans has risen to 8. However, the CDC said the risk to the U.S. population is “low” at this time. But this may change.

Further outbreaks in dairy cows

The cases are part of a widespread outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, which has spread worldwide in wild birds but has also infected poultry and several other mammal species, including dairy cows in the United States.

There, the spread of bird flu to dairy cows is a concern. In March, US officials reported the first outbreak of the H5N1 virus in dairy cows. Since then, 140 herds in 13 states have been affected. Most recently, an outbreak was confirmed at a farm in Oklahoma.

Concern about potential mutation

Scientists fear that contact with the virus in poultry and dairy farms could increase the risk of the virus mutating — and bring it closer to human transmission.

US biotech company Moderna earlier in July received a $176 million funding injection from the US government to develop a vaccine against bird flu.