Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File

Explainer: How U.S. states are testing for bird flu

States in the U.S. are playing a key role in the nation's response to a growing outbreak of avian flu among dairy cattle that has also infected a small number of humans. The states are chiefly responsible for testing cows and people for the virus, but they take different approaches. Scientists tracking bird flu are increasingly concerned that current surveillance efforts are not sufficient.




(John Greig photo)

Colorado reports human case of bird flu

Dairy farm worker had mild symptoms and recovered after antiviral treatment

Public health officials in Colorado on Wednesday announced an adult man had tested positive for avian flu after reporting mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis, or pink eye.







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Bovine bird flu reports still at zero in Canada

Results of a national testing program conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released June 18 showed no evidence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the country’s milk supply. "Commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume," said a release from the CFIA and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). It was also noted that even if traces of the virus were found, the pasteurization process would have rendered them harmless.