Nation’s first ‘severe’ avian flu patient dies in Louisiana
Greg LaRose
Mon, January 6, 2025
Microbiologist Martha Kuka works on testing poultry samples collected from a farm located in a control area for the presence of avian influenza, or bird flu, at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on March 24, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin.
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The Louisiana patient who contracted what officials said was the nation’s first “severe” case of avian influenza has died, the state health department said Monday.
The person who contracted the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic bird flu in southwest Louisiana had been hospitalized since mid-December. The patient was over age 65 and had an underlying medical condition, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. They contracted the virus from exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, officials have said.
State health workers have conducted an “extensive public health investigation” and identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission, LDH said in a news release. The patient has been the only human case of H5N1 reported in Louisiana.
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The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed the presence of H5N1 in two “backyard flocks” in the state, one in Northwest Louisiana and another in Southwest Louisiana.
There have been 66 human cases of avian influenza confirmed in a total of 10 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California has the most cases with 37, followed by Washington with 11 and Colorado with 10.
H5N1 infects birds and poultry. It can be passed on to humans who work in close contact with sick and dead birds. Human cases reported in other states have mostly been linked to dairy workers where the virus has been spread to cattle.
The virus can cause severe breathing problems and death in birds. Similar, severe flu-like symptoms can appear in humans, though the risk for public health is considered generally low.
Nearly 13 people out every 100,000 in Louisiana died annually from flu-related illnesses from 2018-22, based on the most recent figures available from the National Center for Health Statistics. That rate has decreased every year since 2020.
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More than 12,400 persons in the U.S. who believed they were exposed to avian influenza have been monitored, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of that number, 560 have been tested for H5NI, resulting in confirmation of the 63 cases.
State health officials say the best way for families to protect themselves from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure, such as direct contact with wild birds or other animals that might be infected.
Experts also advise against eating uncooked or undercooked food. Cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature helps lower the risk from any possible contaminants.
For anyone who works on poultry or dairy farms, health officials suggest talking to a health care provider about getting a 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.
Persons who suspect they were exposed to sick or dead birds or other animals or work on a farm where avian influenza has been detected should watch for respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis (pink eye).
If you develop such symptoms within 10 days after exposure to sick or dead animals, officials urge you to tell your health care provider you have been in contact with sick animals and are concerned about avian influenza. This information will help them give you appropriate advice on testing and treatment.
Anyone who suspects they are infected with avian flu should stay away from others while symptomatic.
This is a developing story
Louisiana reports first human death in US from bird flu
The Louisiana patient who contracted what officials said was the nation’s first “severe” case of avian influenza has died, the state health department said Monday.
The person who contracted the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic bird flu in southwest Louisiana had been hospitalized since mid-December. The patient was over age 65 and had an underlying medical condition, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. They contracted the virus from exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, officials have said.
State health workers have conducted an “extensive public health investigation” and identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission, LDH said in a news release. The patient has been the only human case of H5N1 reported in Louisiana.
ADVERTISEMENT
The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry has confirmed the presence of H5N1 in two “backyard flocks” in the state, one in Northwest Louisiana and another in Southwest Louisiana.
There have been 66 human cases of avian influenza confirmed in a total of 10 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California has the most cases with 37, followed by Washington with 11 and Colorado with 10.
H5N1 infects birds and poultry. It can be passed on to humans who work in close contact with sick and dead birds. Human cases reported in other states have mostly been linked to dairy workers where the virus has been spread to cattle.
The virus can cause severe breathing problems and death in birds. Similar, severe flu-like symptoms can appear in humans, though the risk for public health is considered generally low.
Nearly 13 people out every 100,000 in Louisiana died annually from flu-related illnesses from 2018-22, based on the most recent figures available from the National Center for Health Statistics. That rate has decreased every year since 2020.
ADVERTISEMENT
More than 12,400 persons in the U.S. who believed they were exposed to avian influenza have been monitored, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of that number, 560 have been tested for H5NI, resulting in confirmation of the 63 cases.
State health officials say the best way for families to protect themselves from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure, such as direct contact with wild birds or other animals that might be infected.
Experts also advise against eating uncooked or undercooked food. Cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature helps lower the risk from any possible contaminants.
For anyone who works on poultry or dairy farms, health officials suggest talking to a health care provider about getting a 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.
Persons who suspect they were exposed to sick or dead birds or other animals or work on a farm where avian influenza has been detected should watch for respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis (pink eye).
If you develop such symptoms within 10 days after exposure to sick or dead animals, officials urge you to tell your health care provider you have been in contact with sick animals and are concerned about avian influenza. This information will help them give you appropriate advice on testing and treatment.
Anyone who suspects they are infected with avian flu should stay away from others while symptomatic.
This is a developing story
Louisiana reports first human death in US from bird flu
Marina Dunbar and agency
Mon, January 6, 2025
An image of avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles.
Photograph: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/AFP/Getty Images
A patient in Louisiana has become the first human in the US to die of bird flu.
The Louisiana department of health reported on Monday afternoon that a patient who had been hospitalized in the state with the first human case of avian influenza has now died.
The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions, the department announced in a statement.
The patient contracted bird flu, officially known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.
A genetic analysis had suggested the bird flu virus had mutated inside the patient, which could have resulted in a more severe illness.
This marked the first human case in the US linked to exposure to backyard birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Louisiana department of health’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 LDH added.
In the statement, the department “expresses its deepest condolences to the patient’s family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one”.
It added that patient confidentiality and respect for the family meant there would not be further updates about the patient from that authority. The patient has not been named.
The department added that “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.”
Since March last year, 66 confirmed bird flu infections in humans have been reported in the US, but previous cases have been mild, with most having been detected among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows.
In two cases – and adult in Missouri and a child in California – health officials have not determined how the virus was caught.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
A patient in Louisiana has become the first human in the US to die of bird flu.
The Louisiana department of health reported on Monday afternoon that a patient who had been hospitalized in the state with the first human case of avian influenza has now died.
The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions, the department announced in a statement.
The patient contracted bird flu, officially known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.
A genetic analysis had suggested the bird flu virus had mutated inside the patient, which could have resulted in a more severe illness.
This marked the first human case in the US linked to exposure to backyard birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Louisiana department of health’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 LDH added.
In the statement, the department “expresses its deepest condolences to the patient’s family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one”.
It added that patient confidentiality and respect for the family meant there would not be further updates about the patient from that authority. The patient has not been named.
The department added that “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.”
Since March last year, 66 confirmed bird flu infections in humans have been reported in the US, but previous cases have been mild, with most having been detected among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows.
In two cases – and adult in Missouri and a child in California – health officials have not determined how the virus was caught.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
India issues red alert for zoos after three tigers and leopard die of avian flu at rescue centre
Maroosha Muzaffar
Mon, January 6, 2025
India has issued a nationwide red alert for zoos and animal rescue centres after three tigers and a leopard died of H5N1 avian influenza.
The four big cats died late last month at a rescue centre in Nagpur, in the western state of Maharashtra, after contracting the virus, authorities said.
The animals, relocated from Chandrapur to the Gorewada Rescue Centre earlier last month after instances of human-wildlife conflict, showed symptoms shortly after arrival and died by 30 December.
Samples taken from the carcasses tested positive for H5N1 on 1 January.
The central government has now issued an alert to all zoos, advising vigilance for symptoms in captive animals. Maharashtra’s forest department has also placed its zoos and rescue centres on high alert, with containment measures in place at Gorewada, including disinfection and staff precautions.
After medical checks, staff at the centre have been equipped with personal protective equipment as a precautionary measure.
“It is a highly contagious viral disease with zoonotic ramifications. It is, therefore, advised that all zoos remain alert and vigilant for any symptoms among captive animals housed in zoos and incidence, if any, in nearby areas,” the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in an advisory on 3 January.
While no other animal at the Nagpur centre has shown symptoms, investigations are underway to determine the virus’s source.
“We came to know about the deaths in the last week of December, after which we followed protocols and sent samples for testing. The reports showed H5N1 positive, but none of us are aware of the source of transmission,” Shatanik Bhagwat, divisional manager of the Gorewada centre, was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
It is suspected, however, that the tigers and the leopard contracted the virus through exposure to contaminated food sources like raw poultry.
The rescue facility, typically off limits to visitors, has temporarily halted operations.
Maroosha Muzaffar
Mon, January 6, 2025
India has issued a nationwide red alert for zoos and animal rescue centres after three tigers and a leopard died of H5N1 avian influenza.
The four big cats died late last month at a rescue centre in Nagpur, in the western state of Maharashtra, after contracting the virus, authorities said.
The animals, relocated from Chandrapur to the Gorewada Rescue Centre earlier last month after instances of human-wildlife conflict, showed symptoms shortly after arrival and died by 30 December.
Samples taken from the carcasses tested positive for H5N1 on 1 January.
The central government has now issued an alert to all zoos, advising vigilance for symptoms in captive animals. Maharashtra’s forest department has also placed its zoos and rescue centres on high alert, with containment measures in place at Gorewada, including disinfection and staff precautions.
After medical checks, staff at the centre have been equipped with personal protective equipment as a precautionary measure.
“It is a highly contagious viral disease with zoonotic ramifications. It is, therefore, advised that all zoos remain alert and vigilant for any symptoms among captive animals housed in zoos and incidence, if any, in nearby areas,” the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in an advisory on 3 January.
While no other animal at the Nagpur centre has shown symptoms, investigations are underway to determine the virus’s source.
“We came to know about the deaths in the last week of December, after which we followed protocols and sent samples for testing. The reports showed H5N1 positive, but none of us are aware of the source of transmission,” Shatanik Bhagwat, divisional manager of the Gorewada centre, was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
It is suspected, however, that the tigers and the leopard contracted the virus through exposure to contaminated food sources like raw poultry.
The rescue facility, typically off limits to visitors, has temporarily halted operations.
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