Colorado Reports 2 More Avian Flu Infections in Poultry Cullers

By Lisa Schnirring

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) today reported two more human avian flu infections connected to H5N1 outbreaks at poultry farms, both of whom are part of the response to an event at a second large layer farm.

Colorado is currently battling the virus at two large layer farms in Weld County, which combined have about 3 million birds. Officials have said heat wave conditions may be contributing to recent infections in poultry cullers. Poultry depopulation is a laborious process, and sweltering conditions in the barns and air movement from industrial fans are thought to be reducing protection from goggles and masks the workers are wearing.

On July 20, the state reported the first illness linked to the second farm, which was classified as a presumptive positive. Colorado has now reported nine cases among workers at the two layer farms. The state had earlier reported another case in a dairy farm worker, bringing its total to 10 in recent outbreaks.

CDC confirms cases, patients have mild illness

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that it has confirmed three H5 avian influenza infections from the second farm. It added that all of the people had been working directly with infected poultry.

Patients have mild illness, and all have been offered the antiviral drug oseltamivir.

The CDC said the new cases haven't changed its risk assessment for the general public, which remains low. However, it said the latest infections underscore the risk from exposure from infected animals. 

State officials to launch human case tracker

Also, the CDPHE today said later today it will launch a data table to track human infections. Colorado is currently grappling with ongoing outbreaks affecting dairy cows, and the B13.3 genotype circulating in cows has been confirmed in at least one recent outbreak at a massive layer farm in Colorado, along with a worker on that farm.

The CDPHE said it would update the data table by 4 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that it will include presumptive positives, confirmed cases, and the approximate number of people tested.

More outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows

Earlier this week, the Colorado Department of Agriculture reported a third recent outbreak, this time at a layer pullet facility in Weld County that houses about 300,000 birds. 

Officials also reported two more outbreaks on dairy farms, raising its total to 51. The avian flu outbreaks have affected nearly half of the states licensed dairy farms. In response to the ongoing escalation, Colorado's state veterinarian ordered mandatory weekly bulk milk testing.