Specifically it was Michigan and Colorado and the study took place between June and August

agony-shivering

Since April 2024, sporadic infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses have been detected among dairy farm workers in the United States. To date, infections have mostly been detected through worker monitoring, and have been mild despite the possibility of more severe illness. During June–August 2024, CDC collaborated with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to implement cross-sectional serologic surveys to ascertain the prevalence of recent infection with HPAI A(H5) virus among dairy workers. In both states, a convenience sample of persons who work in dairies was interviewed, and blood specimens were collected. Among 115 persons, eight (7%; 95% CI = 3.6%–13.1%) had serologic evidence of recent infection with A(H5) virus; all reported milking cows or cleaning the milking parlor. Among persons with serologic evidence of infection, four recalled being ill around the time cows were ill; symptoms began before or within a few days of A(H5) virus detections among cows. This finding supports the need to identify and implement strategies to prevent transmission among dairy cattle to reduce worker exposures and for education and outreach to dairy workers concerning prevention, symptoms, and where to seek medical care if the workers develop symptoms. Timely identification of infected herds can support rapid initiation of monitoring, testing, and treatment for human illness, including mild illness, among exposed dairy workers.

  • happybadger [he/him]
    ·
    3 days ago

    Colorado is so fucked. All of our big cattle operations are situated in extremely reactionary areas. Greeley, the main cattle town, tried to secede from the state over the COVID mask mandate. Raw milk is one of the right-wing obsessions and the dairies circumvent pasteurisation law by selling "shares" of a cow. You're technically just drinking from your own cow even if it's one of 200 eating chicken shit in an industrial dairy next to a dozen feed lots and poultry farms. There's no chance the state government will have an effective public health response if it's similar to their unenforced COVID lockdown, and we're a road/air nexus for the entire country.