First Patient to Be Hospitalized With H5N1 in U.S. Dies

The Louisiana Department of Health has reported that the patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of H5N1 in the U.S. has died.

The patient “was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions. The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.”

The Department’s investigation revealed “no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission. This patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana.” The risk to the general public remains low, according to the Department, but they caution that “people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk.”

They also provide some guidelines for people to follow to prevent transmission of bird flu. Among their tips include “avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses” and not eating uncooked or undercooked food.