A man from Louisiana, who was the first person in the U.S. to get a serious case of bird flu, has died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. This news comes as worries about a possible bird flu pandemic grow.

The Louisiana Department of Health said in a press release that the patient caught the illness after being around a mix of non-commercial backyard chickens and wild birds. The patient was over 65 years old and had other health problems, but no more details were given.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Dec. 18 that an adult in Louisiana had the first serious case of bird flu in the country.

Since this case in mid-December, no other bird flu (H5N1) cases have been reported in Louisiana. The health department also said there is no evidence that the illness spread from person to person.

The health department said that the risk to the public is low, but people who work with or have contact with birds, poultry, or cows are more at risk.

The World Health Organization has said that the disease rarely affects humans. From January 2003 to March 2024, only 888 human cases were reported worldwide, and half of those people died.

How to Avoid Getting Bird Flu

The CDC says the best way to avoid bird flu (H5) is to stay away from sick or dead animals, especially wild birds or poultry. If you have to be near sick birds or other animals, the CDC suggests wearing protective gear. Finally, the CDC also recommends avoiding surfaces or items that might have saliva, mucus, or animal poop from birds or other animals that are sick or suspected of having bird flu.

Big Number

66: This is the number of bird flu cases confirmed by the CDC during the 2024 outbreak.

Key Background

A type of bird flu called H5N1 was first found in wild birds in Europe in 2020, according to Yale Medicine. It was later found in birds in Canada and the U.S. in 2021. The flu began spreading in livestock in the U.S. in April, when the Food and Drug Administration discovered traces of H5N1 in some pasteurized milk. The CDC then declared an outbreak. A person in Louisiana who died from bird flu had the D1.1 strain of the virus, which is linked to bird and poultry infections, as well as some human cases in Canada and Washington. This strain is different from the one found in dairy cattle. On December 26, the CDC said a study of the virus showed it had changes that helped it infect human airways and spread more easily between people. However, the CDC still says the general risk to the public is low.

Tangent

There have been no human cases of bird flu reported in Louisiana since the last one, but on December 23, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed one human case. The person was exposed to infected livestock at their workplace. This was the first case in the county. The person had mild symptoms, was treated with antivirals, and recovered at home.

Surprising Fact

A man in California said that two of his cats died after drinking raw milk that had bird flu. According to the Los Angeles Times, at least 11 pets have died since December 1, 2023, after drinking raw milk or eating raw pet food. Experts believe the number of deaths is likely higher than reported.

Published: 7th January 2024

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