The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States. The patient, who is hospitalized in Louisiana, had been in contact with sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. This marks the first instance of a severe illness linked to the virus in the U.S., as previous cases had been mild and mostly among farm workers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows.
Since April, a total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu have been reported in the U.S., with more than half of them in California. Health officials have not determined how two individuals in Missouri and California caught the virus. The CDC confirmed the Louisiana infection on Friday but did not announce it until Wednesday. The virus belongs to a genotype related to viruses recently detected in wild birds and poultry in the U.S. and in recent human cases in British Columbia and Washington state.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization is calling for increased surveillance globally of animal populations susceptible to H5N1, including wild birds, poultry, swine, and cattle. The CDC emphasizes that bird flu is primarily an animal health issue, and the risk to the general public remains low. There has been no documented spread of the virus from person to person.
To prevent H5 bird flu, the CDC advises avoiding exposure whenever possible, as infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, mucous, and feces. Other infected animals may also shed the virus in respiratory secretions and other bodily fluids. Public health officials continue to monitor the situation closely to protect the health and safety of the population.