Officials from the Louisiana Department of Health have announced the death of a patient hospitalise with H5N1 bird flu , the first such case in the United States .
The patient – who was over 65 years old andreportedto have underlying medical condition – had previously become the first known person in the US with asevere caseof the viral infection , thought to be contract after exposure to both a backyard flock and wild birds .
“ While tragical , a death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States is not unexpected because of the roll in the hay voltage for infection with these virus to cause stark illness and death , ” said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) in astatement .
Mildersymptomsof bird flu can include mild feverishness , a sore pharynx , a close nose , and red peeved eyes . In severe case , infection can lead to complications such as respiratory and kidney failure , sepsis , and inflammation of the nous .
H5N1 is what ’s known as ahighly pathogenicform of bird flu ; though this mainly means that it ’s often hard or deadly in poultry , the computer virus is also considered to be particularly dangerous to mankind . Out of the 954 confirmed H5N1 casesreportedto the World Health Organization between 2003 and 2024 , just under half resulted in expiry .
Nevertheless , the CDC has say that the peril of member of the world-wide public contracting the virus “ remains low ” and no furtherhuman casesof H5N1 bird flu have been identified in Louisiana .
The US saw66 reassert human casesof H5N1 bird influenza in 2024 ; 40 of the cause were connect to dairy farm cattle herd , 23 to poultry farms and culling facilities , 1 to other animal picture , and 2 cases had an unknown source of exposure .
There ’s yet to be any grounds of transmittance between man , though the CDC has said is continually “ monitor for changes that might advise H5 viruses are becoming advantageously adapt to mammals and therefore might propagate more easy from animals - to - man or human - to - human being or induce more severe disease . ”
In the meantime , the advice being given to the public is to forfend source of pic as much as is potential .
“ People should avoid direct inter-group communication with wild birds and other brute infect with or suspected to be infected with avian grippe A virus , ” theCDCadvises . “ If you must have direct / close link with septic or potentially infected hiss or other animate being , wear off recommended personal protective equipment ( PPE ) . ”
The subject matter of this article is not stand for to be a substitute for professional aesculapian advice , diagnosis , or discussion . Always seek the advice of dependent wellness providers with questions you may have regarding medical circumstance .
