Headlines Monday, February 2, 2026
Bird flu hits Weld County
As of last Thursday evening, state officials have issued a disaster declaration after bird flu was discovered at a Weld County commercial egg farm. 9News reports that hundreds of chickens have now been culled to prevent the spread of the suspected flu. The state is currently waiting to get samples back from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Iowa for confirmation of a positive test. As of now, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) says there are no confirmed cases in humans.
In 2024, at least 10 Coloradans were confirmed to have contracted the virus, including nine workers on Weld County poultry farms. There were no reported deaths. This comes after a December warning by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) that the risk of avian flu can rise in winter due to migrating birds like ducks and geese. The declaration Thursday was issued by Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, as Governor Jared Polis was in Washington D.C. to attend the Colorado River negotiation meeting…