The Louisiana Department of Health reported on Monday that a patient hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu died in the US. This is the first death in the country from the virus outbreak that has sickened dozens of people and millions of poultry and cattle.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 70 people in the U.S. have contracted bird flu since April, most of them animal farm workers exposed to diseased chickens and dairy cattle.
Louisiana health officials said the patient in Louisiana, the first person in the country hospitalized with the virus, contracted bird flu after exposure to backyard chickens and wild birds. The patient was hospitalized on December 18, 2024, health officials say.
Officials said the patient was over 65 years old and had underlying health conditions.
“While the current public health risk to the general public remains low, people who work with or have recreational contact with birds, poultry or cows are at increased risk.” the department said in a statement.
The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.