Louisiana Reports First H5N1 Fatality, CDC Assures Public Health Risk Remains Low…reports Asian Lite News
The United States has reported its first human fatality from bird flu, or H5N1, as a patient in Louisiana succumbed to the virus, authorities confirmed.
The Louisiana Department of Health announced that the patient, over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions, contracted H5N1 after exposure to a mix of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. Despite medical intervention, the patient passed away, marking the first recorded human death from bird flu in the country.
State health officials emphasized that this remains the only confirmed case in Louisiana. Extensive investigations have found no additional cases or evidence of human-to-human transmission. While the general public’s risk is considered low, individuals who work with birds or have recreational exposure to poultry are advised to exercise caution.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expressed condolences in a statement, noting the tragic but not unexpected nature of the death due to the severe illness H5N1 can cause.
As of Monday, the U.S. has recorded 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 since 2024, and 67 since 2022. Globally, over 950 cases have been reported to the World Health Organization, with a mortality rate of about 50%, according to the CDC.
The CDC reassured the public that no person-to-person transmission has been identified in this case and continues to monitor the situation closely, maintaining that the risk to the general population remains low.
