Thursday, July 25, 2024

Colorado: 3 Confirmed Human H5 Infections at 2nd Poultry Farm


https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/avianflu/avian-flu-transmission.pdf


#18,207

Today Colorado's Health Department announced 3 confirmed cases of HPAI H5 among poultry workers on the 2nd farm (one case was reported as presumed positive on Monday), bringing to 10 the number of cases (1 cattle linked, 9 poultry linked) reported by that state over the past few months. 

No details are provided on these 2 new cases, with the thrust of the announcement focused more on the unveiling - later today - of a new data table for tracking cases.  We should get more details tomorrow, however, from the CDC weekly roundup. 

The brief statement follows.

State health officials to publish data table for human cases of avian flu in Colorado
Coloradans can find twice weekly updates on avian flu in humans on the CDPHE website
Denver (July 25, 2024) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment — in coordination with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and State Emergency Operations Center — is reporting three confirmed cases of avian flu in humans at a second farm in Weld County, bringing the total number of cases to three at that particular farm. Public health officials first reported news of the virus at a second farm last Saturday. This update brings Colorado's total number of confirmed avian flu cases in humans to 10 — nine cases at two poultry farms and one case from a dairy farm.
Later today, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will launch a data table to track cases of avian flu in humans. The table will be updated on the CDPHE website by 4 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.

The biweekly update will include the number of presumptive positive human cases, number of confirmed human cases, approximate number of people tested, and a link to the Colorado Department of Agriculture for the number of impacted dairy and poultry farms.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture provides data on avian flu in poultry and dairy cattle, which is updated weekly or as data is confirmed.

The CDC continues to state that the risk of avian flu to the general public is low. So far, we have not seen evidence of person-to-person transmission. Epidemiologists both here in Colorado and at CDC are monitoring for genetic variations in the virus and changes in transmission patterns.

It seems likely that more cases will turn up in the days and weeks ahead.

Stay tuned.