CDC confirms first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States
CDC confirms first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States
www.cdc.gov CDC Confirms First Severe Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the United States
December 18, 2024-- A patient has been hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1)
Summary
The CDC confirmed the first severe U.S. case of H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana, linked to exposure to sick and dead birds in a backyard flock.
This marks the first backyard flock-related case in the U.S., though 61 human cases of H5 bird flu have been reported since April 2024.
The virus belongs to the D1.1 genotype, found in wild birds and recent cases in Canada and the U.S.
There is no evidence of person-to-person spread, and public health risk remains low. The CDC advises precautions for those exposed to infected animals.