Louisiana Reports First Presumptive Human Case of H5N1 Bird Flu
Source: DairyNews.today
The Louisiana Department of Health announced on Friday the detection of the state’s first presumptive positive human case of H5N1 bird flu infection.
The patient, a resident of southwestern Louisiana, is currently hospitalized. Health officials are working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct an epidemiological investigation.
Preliminary findings indicate the individual had direct contact with sick and dead birds believed to have been infected with H5N1. The virus, a strain of avian influenza, causes highly contagious and severe respiratory illness in birds.
H5N1 outbreaks have been ongoing in wild birds and poultry across the United States since 2022. As of Dec. 13, there have been 60 confirmed human cases nationwide, with most linked to exposure to infected birds or livestock. No evidence of person-to-person transmission has been reported in any of the U.S. cases.
Preliminary findings indicate the individual had direct contact with sick and dead birds believed to have been infected with H5N1. The virus, a strain of avian influenza, causes highly contagious and severe respiratory illness in birds.
H5N1 outbreaks have been ongoing in wild birds and poultry across the United States since 2022. As of Dec. 13, there have been 60 confirmed human cases nationwide, with most linked to exposure to infected birds or livestock. No evidence of person-to-person transmission has been reported in any of the U.S. cases.
