Colorado Dairy Worker Tests Positive For Avian Flu

The AP (7/3, Aleccia) said, “A fourth farm worker has been infected with bird flu in the growing outbreak linked to dairy cows, health officials reported Wednesday.” The farm employee “had direct contact with infected dairy cows on a northeast Colorado farm, state and federal health officials said. The man developed pink eye, or conjunctivitis, received antiviral treatment and has recovered.” CNN (7/3, Howard) reported, “More than a quarter of dairy herds in Colorado have reported cases of bird flu, according to data from the state health department.” And nationally, “as of Wednesday, federal data shows that seven states have confirmed cases in the past 30 days, and 40% of them are in Colorado – more than any other state.” NBC News (7/3, Edwards) reported, “Since the outbreak was first detected in March, more than 780 people exposed to sick cows have been monitored, and 53 have been tested for the virus, the CDC said Tuesday in a briefing with reporters.” Reuters (7/3, Douglas) reported the CDC “confirmed the case in a statement and said the risk to the general public from bird flu remains low, although people with exposure to infected animals are at greater risk.”