Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

US poultry workers test positive for avian flu
The CDC has said that it believes the risk to the public ramains low.
The cases are all linked to the culling of an infected flock.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry workers since 2022.

Four cases have been confirmed, and a fifth case is awaiting confirmation. All of the cases involve farm workers who were taking part in a cull of poultry at a facility in north east Colorado that was experiencing an outbreak of HPAI H5N1.

The workers who have tested positive all reported mild illness, including conjunctivitis and eye tearing, as well as fever, chills, coughing and sore throat/runny nose. None of them needed to be hospitalised.

State epidemiologists are investigating with support from CDC. It is suspected the cases were caused by working directly with poultry carrying the virus.

Although the cases are the first in American poultry workers since 2022, there have been cases this year in dairy workers linked to the ongoing outbreak of the virus in cattle, including one in Colorado.

Colorado is one of the states most affected by the HPAI outbreak in cattle, with more than 40 herds testing positive for the virus.
 
In a statement confirming the human cases, CDC said that genetic sequencing of the virus in the clinical specimens is underway, and that it believes ‘the risk to the public from this outbreak remains low.’

Image © Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

FIVP Practice Matters podcast returns for Series 2

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) has announced that its podcast, FIVP Practice Matters, will be returning for a second series next year.

The bi-weekly podcast will return on Tuesday, 14 January 2025 with an episode on sustainability with Alison Lambert. The second series will include a range of new and familiar guests sharing veterinary initiatives and news from independent practices.

The podcast is available on Spotify and will now also be released on Apple Podcasts. More details about FIVP and the podcast can be found on its website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Further cases of H5N1 confirmed in Norfolk

APHA has officially confirmed that two more cases of H5N1 have been found on premises in Norfolk.

Testing confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was present at premises near Attleborough, as well as premises near Hingham in South Norfolk. The case near Hingham follows a slaughter on suspicion which was declared on 23 December.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been implemented at each premises, and all the poultry on each premises will be humanely culled.

A third case has also been identified near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire.

APHA is reminding bird keepers to remain vigilant and follow biosecurity measures to prevent more outbreaks. Details on the current disease control zones and biosecurity guidance can be found on the APHA website.