First Severe Bird Flu Case in the US: Louisiana Resident Hospitalized

A 65-year-old individual from Louisiana has been hospitalized in critical condition after contracting the H5N1 bird flu, marking the first reported severe case of the virus in the United States. Health officials have confirmed that the patient was exposed to infected backyard birds, although there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the case on Wednesday, emphasizing that the infection came from contact with sick and dead birds in noncommercial flocks. Despite the severity of this case, the CDC maintains that the overall public health risk from H5N1 remains low.

CDC’s Dr. Demetre Daskalakis noted that this case is the first severe instance linked to backyard poultry, underscoring the importance of taking precautions around potentially infected animals. Investigations into the source of the infection are ongoing.