Louisiana health officials have reported the first human death from H5N1 avian influenza in the United States.
The deceased was a 66-year-old man with underlying health conditions who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms.
He had direct contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock, which is believed to be the source of his infection.
In December, the CDC confirmed the first severe U.S. human case of H5N1 bird flu in a Louisiana man who had contact with sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.
According to AP, genetic analysis of the virus revealed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, which experts claim could increase the virus’s ability to infect humans.
These mutations were allegedly absent in samples from the infected birds on the patient’s property, suggesting that the virus may have mutated post-infection.
Health authorities emphasize that there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus.
However, they urge individuals who handle birds to take precautions, including wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when dealing with sick or dead birds.
According to the press release:
The Louisiana Department of Health reports the patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana and the U.S. has died. The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions. The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.
LDH’s extensive public health investigation has identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission. This patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana.
The Department expresses its deepest condolences to the patient’s family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one. Due to patient confidentiality and respect for the family, this will be the final update about the patient.
While the current public health risk for the general public remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk.
The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.
Protecting yourself and others from H5N1 infection
- Do not touch sick or dead animals or their droppings and do not bring sick wild animals into your home.
- Keep your pets away from sick or dead animals and their feces.
- Do not eat uncooked or undercooked food. Cook poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.
- Avoid uncooked food products such as unpasteurized raw milk or cheeses from animals that have a suspected or confirmed infection.
- If you work on poultry or dairy farms, talk to your provider about getting your seasonal flu vaccination. It will not prevent infection with avian influenza viruses, but it can reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.
- Report dead or sick birds or animals to the USDA toll-free at 1-866-536-7593 or the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Diagnostic Lab at 318-927-3441.
If you have been exposed to sick or dead birds or other animals or work on a farm where avian influenza has been detected, watch for respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis. If you develop symptoms within 10 days after exposure to sick or dead animals, tell your healthcare provider that you have been in contact with sick animals and are concerned about avian influenza. This will help them give you appropriate advice on testing and treatment. Stay home and away from others while you have symptoms.
Since March 2024, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S., primarily among farmworkers exposed to infected poultry or dairy cows. Most of these cases were mild.
In November, the CDC confirmed the first-ever case of bird flu in a child in the United States.
The young patient, a resident of California, reportedly experienced mild symptoms and has since been recovering following treatment with flu antivirals.
Since the onset of the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in early 2022, approximately 130 million poultry birds have been affected across all 50 U.S. states.
This figure includes birds that either succumbed to the virus or were culled to prevent further spread. The widespread impact of the virus has led to significant economic losses and disruptions within the poultry industry.
In addition to poultry, the outbreak has also affected wild bird populations, with nearly 11,000 wild birds detected with the virus as of January 3, 2025.
As of Monday, the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak has affected 917 dairy herds across 16 states in the United States.
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