The first reported U.S. death from bird flu occurred in Louisiana, involving a person who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms. State health officials announced the death on Monday, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed it as the nation’s first fatality linked to bird flu.
The individual, who was over 65 years old and had underlying health conditions, had come into contact with sick or dead birds from a backyard flock. Officials mentioned that genetic analysis indicated the bird flu virus might have mutated within the patient, potentially causing the more severe illness.
Although the death has been confirmed, few details about the individual have been released.
Since March, 66 bird flu infections have been reported in the U.S. Most of these cases were mild, primarily affecting farmworkers exposed to infected poultry or dairy cows.
Experts in virology indicated that a bird flu death was anticipated. Since 2003, over 950 bird flu infections have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 460 resulting in fatalities, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health, emphasized that the bird flu virus is a significant threat and has historically been deadly. She described the recent death as a tragic reminder of the virus’s potential dangers.
Nuzzo mentioned that a Canadian teenager recently became seriously ill after contracting the virus. Researchers are still working to understand the risks associated with the current strain of the bird flu and why it affects some individuals more severely than others.
She cautioned that just because some cases have been mild, it doesn’t mean future cases will remain so.
In a statement, CDC officials expressed their sorrow over the Louisiana death but reassured the public that there are no alarming changes in the virus currently spreading among wild birds, poultry, or cows that would increase the risk to human health.
In two recent U.S. cases — one involving an adult in Missouri and the other a child in California — health officials have not yet determined how the individuals contracted the virus. However, the source of the infection in the Louisiana case was clear: it was the first human case in the U.S. linked to exposure to backyard birds, according to the CDC.
Louisiana officials have stated they are unaware of any other cases in the state, and U.S. health authorities have found no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus.
The H5N1 bird flu has been spreading extensively among wild birds, poultry, cows, and other animals, which raises the likelihood that humans may be exposed to the virus. As a result, health officials continue to urge people who handle sick or dead birds to take necessary precautions, including wearing respiratory protection, eye protection, and gloves when dealing with poultry.