Each year in Colorado, another person contracts bird flu from cows.

On Wednesday (July 3), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a fourth dairy worker had tested positive for bird flu after exposure to infected cows, marking Colorado as having its inaugural human case related to ongoing cattle outbreak. Followed up on three human cases from Texas and Michigan. Michigan was hit with mild respiratory symptoms such as coughing; Colorado saw its latest case only having eye symptoms such as redness. A bird flu virus called influenza A(H5N1) is responsible for these infections. This subtype of flu was first detected among U.S. dairy cows in March. Since that time, numerous herds across the United States have tested positive for this virus. Recent research indicates that when infected cows milk their product unpasteurized for at least an hour after harvest. Dairy workers face significant risk from coming in contact with unpasteurized milk that contains contaminants from cows or milking equipment; by contrast, pasteurized supplies of milk inactivate any viruses present and are safe. Officials cautioned that taking part in social media-driven trends of drinking raw milk was no guarantee against bird flu, due to potential risk. Given these potential dangers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised dairy workers wearing PPE. In Colorado’s recent instance, an individual had been identified who’d been exposed to H5N1-infected cattle while working. Clinical samples taken from this person were sent to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), who confirmed an influenza A(H5) virus infection. The agency is continuing its analysis to verify the virus as H5N1. We bring the world’s most incredible discoveries right into your inbox!The infected person was treated with oseltamivir (Tamiflu is one brand name version). Following treatment, one individual healed, with all three people previously infected in this outbreak also responding well. Though H5N1 may sometimes prove fatal, the Colorado case does not alter CDC’s assessment of this unfolding outbreak. “CDC has closely observed influenza surveillance systems across states where outbreaks have taken place and has detected no unusual influenza activity among humans”, reported the agency. “Based on available information, this infection does not alter CDC’s current assessment of H5N1 bird flu for U.S. general public, which it considers low. “Nevertheless, CDC will remain vigilant for unusual flu activity in order to monitor it appropriately.” There’s always the risk that H5N1 might acquire mutations that allow it to spread easily between people – something it has yet been unable to do. Changes to virus genetics would be cause for great alarm, as such changes could potentially spark widespread outbreaks or pandemics.If you ever found yourself wondering why some people gain muscle more readily or why freckles appear during sunlight exposure than others – send us your inquiries about how our bodies work by emailing [email protected] with “Health Desk Q” as the subject line and you might just see them answered on LiveScience!