Official announcements from the World Health Organization (WHO)

Louisiana Reports First U.S. H5N1 Bird Flu Death in Patient Over 65

Jan 6, 2025, 08:49 PM

A patient in Louisiana has died from H5N1 bird flu, marking the first human death from the virus in the United States. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, "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 added, "Investigation has identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission." Health officials state that the risk to the general population remains low.