The United States has reported its first human death linked to bird flu, Louisiana health authorities confirmed Monday.
The patient, who was over 65 and had underlying health conditions, had been hospitalized with a respiratory illness. This marks the first severe human case of the H5N1 virus identified in the U.S.
The announcement, made in mid-December when the patient was in critical condition, raised concerns about the potential for a bird flu pandemic, especially as similar cases have emerged globally.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, the individual contracted H5N1 through exposure to a combination of a backyard poultry flock and wild birds. Despite the fatality, the department emphasized that the risk to public health remains low, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
“While the current public health risk is low for the general population, individuals working with birds, poultry, or livestock—or those exposed to them recreationally—are at higher risk,” the department noted.
Genetic analysis revealed that the H5N1 strain infecting the Louisiana patient differs from the strain found in dairy herds and poultry farms across the country.
Since its initial detection in 1996, H5N1 outbreaks have surged, particularly after 2020, affecting both bird flocks and a growing number of mammal species.
Experts warn that widespread circulation of the virus among mammals increases the risk of mutations that could facilitate human transmission.
