Extreme heat may be crucial factor in human spread of bird flu

Extreme heat may be a crucial factor behind the biggest bird flu outbreak in humans in the US as officials continue to track the virus’ spread.

A heatwave in Colorado likely caused personal protective equipment not to work correctly for workers culling poultry infected with H5N1, a highly pathogenic bird flu. Four people have tested positive for H5N1 and a fifth is also expected to have their case confirmed as bird flu, officials said this week.

Four Colorado poultry workers diagnosed with bird flu

It’s the first time a cluster of human cases of bird flu has been reported in the US.

On dairy farms, it has also been difficult for workers to wear PPE, in part because of the heat spreading across much of the US. Colorado confirmed a case of bird flu in a dairy worker earlier this month.

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