Fourth US farm worker sick with bird flu

A fourth farm worker has contracted bird flu in an outbreak linked to dairy cows, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.

The Colorado worker is a person who had direct contact with infected dairy cows. He developed pink eye, received antiviral treatment and recovered, state health officials said.

The other three cow-related human infections were reported among dairy workers in Texas and Michigan. Another person contracted bird flu after coming into contact with poultry, officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the new infection “does not change” the agency’s assessment that the risk to the public remains low. U.S. bird flu surveillance systems have not detected any unusual activity, officials said.

As of Wednesday, H5N1 type A virus infections had been reported in more than 135 dairy cattle derived from poultry, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

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