The United States has reported its first human death linked to bird flu, health authorities in Louisiana announced on Monday, January 6. The patient, a person over 65 with underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized with a respiratory illness before succumbing to the H5N1 virus.
The Louisiana Department of Health revealed in an AFP report that the patient contracted the virus after exposure to a backyard flock and wild birds. This case, initially reported in December as “critical,” raised concerns about the potential for a bird flu outbreak in the U.S., echoing global reports of similar cases.
Despite the fatality, health officials emphasized that the public health risk remains low, noting that there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission. However, they warned that individuals with frequent contact with birds or livestock could face higher risks of exposure.
Genetic analysis found that the H5N1 strain involved in this case differs from versions seen in poultry farms and dairy herds across the country. Experts are monitoring the virus closely due to its increasing prevalence in mammals, which raises fears of mutations that could facilitate human-to-human spread.
H5N1, first identified in 1996, has seen a significant surge in outbreaks among bird populations since 2020, with growing implications for wildlife and human health.
