(KWWL) – The CDC is reporting one person tested positive for the H5 bird flu virus in Colorado. This person had direct contact with poultry and involved in the depopulating of poultry with the presumptive H5N1 bird flu.
This patient reported fatigue for a few days and has recovered. The patient is currently isolated and treated with the influenza antiviral drug oseltamivir.
CDC says risk to the general public is low. People who have exposure to birds are at higher risk of infection and should look into CDC guidance.
So far, the H5N1 virus was detected in 29 states in commercial and backyard birds and in wild birds in 34 states. H5N1 virus infections among people are rare, but human infections can happen when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or inhaled.
Illnesses in people from bird flu range from mild (eye infection, upper respiratory issues) to severe illness (pneumonia) resulting in death.
Spread of earlier H5N1 viruses from one infected person to a close contact in the past happen very rarely and do not sustain person-to-person spread.
The USDA currently has an avian flu detection map of the United States available HERE.
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