First U.S. Death from Bird Flu Confirmed in Louisiana Following Severe H5N1 Case

A Louisiana resident has died after contracting bird flu, marking the first recorded U.S. death linked to the H5N1 virus, state health officials announced on Monday.

The Louisiana Department of Health revealed that the deceased patient, aged over 65, had underlying medical conditions. Despite the severity of this case, officials maintain that the overall public health risk remains low.

The individual became severely ill after exposure to infected wild birds and a backyard poultry flock. No additional cases have been reported among people in Louisiana.

“The CDC has thoroughly reviewed the details surrounding the Louisiana case and continues to assess the risk to the general public as low,” stated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC emphasized that no evidence of person-to-person transmission has been found.

H5N1 Virus and Global Impact

The H5N1 strain has been linked to over 400 fatalities globally since 2003, according to the World Health Organization. In the U.S., one previous case was identified in Missouri last year, although the patient was hospitalized for unrelated medical issues.

The Louisiana patient was infected with the D1.1 strain of H5N1, confirmed through genetic sequencing conducted by the CDC. While the virus displayed rare mutations, these changes likely developed during the infection and were not present in the animals responsible for transmission.

“This is a reminder that A(H5N1) viruses can evolve during human infections,” the CDC noted, adding that such mutations would be more concerning if observed in animal hosts or early in the infection.

The D1.1 strain has also been associated with a severe illness in a 13-year-old girl hospitalized in Canada last year. Canadian health authorities identified a genetic match to wild birds migrating through British Columbia, although the exact source of infection remains unknown.

Bird Flu in the U.S.

This strain differs from the B3.13 genotype, which has caused an unprecedented outbreak in U.S. dairy farms over the past year. The CDC reports 66 confirmed human cases of H5 strains in the U.S. since last year, with most linked to direct exposure to infected livestock or poultry.

Human infections in the U.S. have primarily involved workers exposed to the B3.13 strain through cattle. These cases have been less severe, with no hospitalizations or fatalities reported.

Wild birds or poultry carrying H5N1 have been detected in all 50 states, and infected cattle herds have been identified in at least 16 states. The CDC stresses that human-to-human transmission remains rare, with only limited spread suspected in small clusters overseas.

Symptoms and Prevention

Symptoms of bird flu vary widely and may include flu-like signs such as cough, fever, and vomiting. Some cases have presented with conjunctivitis (pink eye), believed to result from exposure to contaminated materials such as milk from infected cattle.

Most U.S. cases have resolved within four days, often treated effectively with the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

Louisiana health officials urge those working with birds, poultry, or cattle to take precautions. “The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure,” the department stated.