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By Alia Shoaib
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Four people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with bird flu linked to an outbreak in dairy cows, and a Newsweek map plots the states affected, ranging from the north to the south.
The latest in the "multistate outbreak" was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday.
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It is the first case to be reported in Colorado. Previously, two cases were reported in Michigan and one in Texas.
The affected person is a worker on a dairy farm where cows tested positive for the virus, as was the case for the other three individuals, officials said.
The person reported having eye symptoms, received treatment, and has since recovered.
The current outbreak from exposure to cows was first identified in late March.
Bird flu, which is widespread in wild birds worldwide, rarely infects humans, but cases can occur when they transmit through intermediary animals, such as cows, according to the CDC.
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In humans, bird flu can range in severity from causing no symptoms, to causing mild illness with symptoms of an eye infection or upper respiratory symptoms. In severe cases, bird flu can cause pneumonia.
The CDC says that the current risk to the general public is low, although there is a greater risk among those who are regularly exposed to birds or other infected animals through work or recreation.
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Human infections typically take place when the virus is inhaled or gets into a person's eyes, nose or mouth.
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It is rare for the virus to transfer between people, and even in rare cases when it has happened, this does not typically lead to continued infection among people, according to the CDC.
Human-to-human has never been diagnosed in the U.S. before.
The agency advises people to protect themselves when working with sick or dead farm animals, animal feces, raw milk, or other materials that might carry the virus.
People can protect themselves by wearing a mask, personal protective equipment, gloves and boots, and by not eating, drinking, smoking or using the bathroom while in the protective gear, among other things.
After contact has ceased, people should wash their hands and then thoroughly shower.
On Tuesday, pharmaceutical company Moderna was awarded a $176 million government contract to advance development of its human bird flu vaccine.
U.S. officials said that late-stage testing of the vaccine would begin in 2025, according to Reuters, but the contract allows for the development timeline to be accelerated if human cases increase.
The United States Department of Agriculture is conducting research into a potential bird flu vaccine for cattle, but says it hopes to eliminate the virus from dairy herds without a vaccine, per Reuters.
Newsweek reached out to the CDC for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
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