USA: Poultry farm workers contract Avian Flu

H5N1-Virus in humans - USA: Poultry farm workers contract Avian Flu

In the USA, additional cases of Avian Flu in humans have been identified. The US Health Department CDC reported four new confirmations last Friday in the state of Colorado. A fifth possibly positive case is still pending final testing. All infected individuals were agricultural workers who had helped with animal removal at a poultry farm where the H5N1-Virus had broken out.

According to the report, all positively tested workers reported skin rashes or typical flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, Coughing and throat pain. As more testing is being conducted, more cases may be reported, the department stated.

This marks the first confirmed human transmissions of the Virus from birds in the USA since April 2022. In recent months, four human cases of Avian Flu in the USA were reported, one of which was also in the state of Colorado. The US Agriculture Department suspected the cows had been infected by wild birds.

Avian Flu is spreading worldwide

A CDC team is on site in Colorado conducting further investigations into the outbreaks in poultry and dairy farms, the department announced. At present, the risk to the population remains low. However, the cases underscore the risk to humans when they come into contact with infected animals.

Avian Flu or Avian Influenza is caused by Influenza A Viruses in humans, but different subtypes. The current largest documented Avian Flu outbreak, which spans almost the entire globe and affects Europe, is caused by this virus. The pathogen primarily affects birds but has also been found in many mammals, including cats, bears, and seals.

Human infections with the currently circulating global variant have been reported only sporadically. However, health experts warn of the risk that the Virus could adapt to humans and then be transmitted from person to person.

1. The CDC, being the US Health Authority, has been closely monitoring the spread of the Bird Flu Virus, specifically the H5N1 strain.
2. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is currently investigating multiple Bird Flu outbreaks in poultry and dairy farms in Colorado.
3. The US Agriculture Department recently reported cases of Avian Flu in cows in Colorado, raising concerns about the potential for zoonotic transmission.
4. Health workers in the USA are on high alert, as the CDC continues to conduct extensive research into the causes and effects of Avian Flu, including its recent mutations like H5N1.
5. To prevent the further spread of the Bird Flu Virus in humans, the CDC has advised individuals to avoid close contact with poultry and their droppings, and to seek medical attention immediately if they exhibit flu-like symptoms, such as a persistent cough.
6. In light of the recent developments, the US government has increased funding for Bird Flu research and preparedness, working in collaboration with the global Medicine and Health community to develop effective vaccines and treatment options for the H5N1 Virus.
7. The USA is not alone in grappling with the Avian Flu, as Bird Flu Viruses have caused widespread disease outbreaks in many other countries, including Europe, signaling the urgent need for global cooperation in combating this infectious disease.

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