First Severe Bird Flu Case in Louisiana from Backyard Chickens Sparks 500% Surge in Symptom Searches

Dec 19, 2024, 10:00 PM

Health officials confirmed the first severe case of bird flu in the U.S. on Wednesday, leading to a significant increase in online searches for bird flu symptoms. According to Google data, searches for 'bird flu symptoms' surged by 500%, making it the top trending 'symptoms' search on the platform. The case, which required hospitalization, was reported in Louisiana and is believed to be the first instance of transmission from backyard chickens, highlighting a new potential risk factor for the spread of the virus.