H5N1 Strikes Another Large Layer Farm in Colorado, Dairy Herd in Minnesota

By Lisa Schnirring

As Colorado continue its response to a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu outbreak at a massive egg-laying farm connected to five H5 illnesses in people working as poultry cullers, federal agriculture officials confirmed another outbreak at a large layer farm that houses 1.3 million birds. 

Both of the layer farms are in Weld County in the northeastern corner of the state, where several outbreaks have been reported in dairy cattle.

In other developments, Minnesota's Board of Animal Health reported another affected dairy herd, which is located in Stearns County in the central part of the state. 

Wastewater detection in Arkansas

In a new wastewater development, WastewaterSCAN reported a new H5 influenza detection in Arkansas involving the city of Harrison's wastewater treatment plant. No recent outbreaks or detections have been confirmed from the state. 

Wastewater detections aren't able to determine the source of the virus. WastewaterSCAN's H5 tracking has detected the virus in nine other states, all but one of which (California) has reported dairy cattle or poultry outbreaks.

In other wastewater tracking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that, across the 2 weeks ending July 6, no states were at the high level for influenza A, which can't distinguish H5N1 but can be a surveillance signal for health officials to explore the source.