Louisiana has confirmed the first U.S. death from avian influenza, a fatality attributed to the H5N1 virus.

The individual, who was over 65 years old and had underlying health conditions, became severely ill and was hospitalized on December 18 after exposure to both backyard poultry and wild birds. The Louisiana Department of Health, which did not release the identity of the deceased, reported that the patient died after battling severe respiratory symptoms.

Analysis of the virus taken from the patient revealed it belongs to the D1.1 genotype, the same strain recently detected in wild birds and poultry in Washington State. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this particular strain has also been linked to a severe case in a teenager in British Columbia, Canada. Experts suggest the virus may have mutated inside the patient’s body, leading to the severe illness, but there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

While this is the first confirmed human death from bird flu in the U.S., nearly 70 people have contracted avian influenza since April, primarily farm workers exposed to infected poultry and dairy herds.

Read more: California Has Declared A State Of Emergency In Response To A Growing Bird Flu Outbreak That Has Now Infected 645 Dairy Herds

The ongoing bird flu outbreak, which began in poultry in 2022, has caused significant damage, killing nearly 130 million poultry and infecting 917 dairy herds. On a global scale, more than 950 human cases of bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organization, with approximately half resulting in death.
Federal and state officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low. However, they caution that those working with birds, poultry, or cows—or those with recreational exposure—are at higher risk. “The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure,” said officials in a statement. “That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.”

Despite the current low risk, experts warn that continued exposure to the virus increases the potential for mutations, which could make the virus more transmissible among humans. Therefore, ongoing vigilance and preventive measures remain essential.