USA Reports First Death From H5N1 Bird Flu As Virus Claims Life In Louisiana

Louisiana has reported the first death in the U.S. from avian influenza, with a patient over 65 years old succumbing to the H5N1 virus after exposure to backyard poultry and wild birds. The virus belonged to the D1.1 genotype, similar to strains found in Washington State and British Columbia. While this is the first human death from bird flu in the U.S., nearly 70 other cases have been reported since April, mostly among farm workers exposed to infected poultry.

The ongoing bird flu outbreak has caused significant damage in 2022, with nearly 130 million poultry and 917 dairy herds affected. On a global scale, over 950 human cases have been reported, with around half resulting in death. Federal and state officials emphasize the low risk to the general public but caution those working with birds or cows or with recreational exposure to take preventive measures to avoid potential sources of exposure and mutations that could increase human transmission of the virus.