US reports first human death from bird flu

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Louisiana health officials on Monday confirmed the first human death in the United States from bird flu, though they emphasised that the general public remains at low risk for the virus.

The patient, over 65 years old, had been hospitalised in the state since mid-December and was identified as the nation's first serious case of H5N1 infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In a statement, the Louisiana Department of Health noted that the individual had contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of non-commercial backyard poultry and wild birds. There have been no additional reported cases or evidence of person-to-person transmission in the state.

The CDC has been monitoring the rise of bird flu cases, with 66 human infections recorded in the U.S. since the beginning of 2024.

While experts remain concerned about the potential for the virus to mutate and become more transmissible, they assert that the current risk to the general population remains low. However, those who work closely with poultry, birds, or livestock are at higher risk of infection.

The news follows the federal government's recent announcement of a $306 million initiative to strengthen H5N1 surveillance and research. Some have criticized the Biden administration for not doing enough to address the growing concerns surrounding the virus.

The World Health Organization has reported more than 950 human cases of bird flu since 2003 across 24 countries, with particularly high numbers in China and Vietnam. Scientists have raised alarms over the potential for the virus to mutate into a form that could lead to a larger, more deadly outbreak.

Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiology professor at Brown University, stressed the importance of increased preventive measures. "The virus has proven to be lethal, and outbreaks in the U.S. have intensified calls for more proactive government action," she said.

The CDC acknowledged that, while tragic, the death was not unexpected due to the severity of the H5N1 virus, which has been known to cause severe illness and death in humans and animals alike.

Genetic analysis of the virus in the Louisiana patient revealed some mutations that could potentially enable it to adapt to human respiratory systems, though experts stress that more factors are needed for the virus to become highly transmissible between humans.