The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the first severe case of bird flu in the United States. The patient, over 65 years old with underlying health conditions, is hospitalized in Louisiana and in critical condition, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
The CDC confirmed that the patient was infected with a strain of the virus recently detected in wild birds and poultry in the U.S. and in human cases in Canada and Washington state. This strain differs from the version spreading among dairy cows and some poultry populations.
The Louisiana patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, marking the first U.S. human case linked to backyard flock exposure. Investigations into the source of the illness are ongoing.
Since April, 61 human bird flu cases have been reported in the U.S., most linked to direct contact with infected livestock. Prior cases were mild, with patients recovering after antiviral treatment, except for one hospitalization in Missouri due to other health conditions.
Symptoms of bird flu in humans include fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue, with severe cases potentially leading to pneumonia. Prevention involves avoiding exposure to infected birds and animals, as they shed the virus in saliva, mucous, and feces.
No person-to-person transmission has been reported, and the CDC assesses the risk to the general public as low. However, those working with birds, poultry, or raw milk should take recommended precautions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ordered nationwide testing of raw milk for bird flu after detecting the virus in samples from a California farm, prompting a recall and quarantine.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to expedite responses, as the state has recorded 33 human bird flu cases this year.
