Official statements from organizations

CDC Confirms First US Human Death from H5N1 Bird Flu in Louisiana Patient Over 65

Jan 7, 2025, 01:57 AM

Louisiana health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed the first human death in the United States linked to the H5N1 bird flu virus. The patient, over the age of 65 with underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized after experiencing severe respiratory symptoms. The individual contracted the virus in mid-December after exposure to sick and dead birds in a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. Health authorities state that no additional cases have been identified, and there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission. Both the CDC and the World Health Organization confirm that the risk to the general public remains low despite this development.