First U.S. Bird Flu Virus Death Recorded in Louisiana

The first death from the avian influenza virus in the United States was recorded Monday in Louisiana after a patient was exposed to a backyard flock.

The Louisiana patient was over 65 years old and reportedly had pre-existing health conditions at the time of his death. The H5N1 virus was also reported to have been transmitted through contact with birds, and was not transmitted from person to person. Dr. Diego Diehl, a virologist at Cornell University, said the risk of avian influenza transmission remains low, but warned people to continue to be careful around sick animals and avoid wild birds.

Experts also advise people to avoid raw milk, although no human cases have been found so far due to consumption of raw milk.

“We still think the risk is low,” Diehl said. said of new york times. “However, it is important that people remain vigilant and avoid contact with sick animals, sick poultry, sick dairy cows, and also avoid contact with wild birds.”

According to timesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said “Later last month, virus samples taken from a backyard herd were found to be free of the mutation, suggesting that it developed within the patient's body as the disease progressed.”

“One of the mutations was also present in the virus taken from a 13-year-old Canadian girl who was hospitalized and required respiratory support. She has since recovered,” it added. “Both patients carried a version of the virus circulating in wild birds that is different from the virus that causes outbreaks in dairy cows.”