CDC Confirms First Severe Human Bird Flu Case in U.S., Patient Hospitalized in Louisiana

Dec 18, 2024, 06:20 PM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday the first severe human case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States. The patient, hospitalized in Louisiana, had been exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, according to health officials. Agency officials did not immediately detail the person's symptoms. This marks the 61st human infection in the U.S. this year, with previous cases being mild. The CDC stated that this case does not change its assessment of the risk to the general public, which remains low.