A Louisiana resident has died fromH5N1 bird virus, marking the first death from the virus in US, according to the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC). As of January 6, 2025, 66 human H5N1 cases have been reported in the US since 2024, and 67 since 2022.
The CDC said that this death, while horrible, was not surprising due to the disease’s potential to cause severe disease. Globally, the world health organization has recorded over 950 H5N1 circumstances, with about half resulting in mortality.
“CDC is saddened by Louisiana’s report that a person previously hospitalized with severe avian influenza A(H5N1) illness (“H5N1 bird flu”) has passed away. While tragic, a death fromH5N1 bird virus in the United States is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death,” the agency said.
Since 2024, there have been 66 confirmed people H5N1 situations in the US. According to the CDC, the full amount of US cases has increased to 67 since 2022.
CDC continues to assess the risk to the general public as small, stressing that no person-to-person multiply has been identified. The Louisiana situation, like most H5 diseases, stemmed from animal-to-human coverage. The CDC has not found any worrying changes to the disease in animals or other animals that might raise the risk for human health. Nonetheless, those who come into contact with infected animals for work or play have a higher risk of getting sick.
The CDC is working with state and local partners to look into H5 cases, perform surveillance, and look for ways to modify the virus to make it more transmissible or more severe in people. Any potential resistance to antimicrobial drugs or vaccines are also being monitored.
