A fourth person, this time in Colorado, has been infected with bird flu in the United States in connection with an outbreak among cows, U.S. health officials announced Wednesday.
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The risk to the American population remains “low,” however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stressed.
As with previous cases, this person worked on a farm and was exposed to infected cows, the CDC said in a statement.
She only had eye symptoms, was given antiviral medication, and has since recovered.
A first infection in Texas, in the southern United States, was announced on 1er April. It was the first known case of bird flu in humans via a cow.
Two other cases were subsequently reported in Michigan.
Large numbers of cow herds are infected across several U.S. states, an outbreak that was first detected in March.
Experts are concerned about the growing number of mammals infected with the disease, even though human cases remain rare. They fear that high circulation could facilitate a mutation of the virus that would allow it to jump from one human to another.
The CDC reiterated its call for precautions for workers in contact with infected cows.
Steps have been taken to distribute protective equipment, and numerous calls have been made with local officials and industry representatives.
The CDC said “additional genetic testing” would be conducted on the Colorado case to detect any possible changes in the virus that “could alter the agency’s assessment of risk” to the population.
