The first bird flu death reported in the United States was a person in Louisiana who was hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms.
Louisiana health officials announced the death on Monday.
Health officials said the person was older than 65, had underlying medical problems and had contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. They also said that genetic analysis indicated that the bird flu virus had mutated within the patient, which could lead to more serious illness.
They have revealed some other details about the person.
Since March, 66 confirmed cases of bird flu have been reported in the United States, but previous illnesses were mild and most were detected among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows. In two cases — an adult in Missouri and a child in California — health officials did not determine how they contracted the disease.
The origin of the Louisiana person’s infection was not considered a mystery. But it was the first human case in the United States linked to exposure to backyard birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Get weekly health news
Get the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.
Louisiana officials say they are not aware of any other cases in their state, and US officials have said they have no evidence that the virus is spreading from person to person.
The H5N1 avian influenza virus spreads widely among wild birds, poultry, cattle and other animals. Officials said its increasing presence in the environment increases people’s chances of being exposed to it, and possibly becoming infected.
Officials continue to urge people who have contact with sick or dead birds to take precautions, including wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry.
& Edition 2025 The Canadian Press
