By Laura Bailey
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Friday, Dec. 13, that a Louisiana patient has been hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1), commonly known as bird flu. This marks the first instance of severe illness linked to the H5N1 virus in the United States.
The patient, whose identity has not been released, is currently receiving medical care, and the CDC is conducting an investigation into the origin of the infection. Initial findings show the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in a backyard flock, which is the first reported instance of the virus in the U.S. being linked to such a setting.
Since April 2024, there have been 61 reported cases of human infection with the H5N1 virus in the U.S., although this is the first severe case to be reported.
The virus involved in this infection is of the D1.1 genotype, which has been associated with recent outbreaks in wild birds and poultry in the U.S. and other regions, including British Columbia and Washington state. This variant differs from the B3.13 genotype previously detected in dairy cows and sporadic human cases across several states.
The CDC is actively conducting additional genomic sequencing and isolation efforts to better understand the virus’s behavior and to track its spread.
Precautionary Measures for Animal Exposure
The CDC urges anyone who may be exposed to infected animals to follow safety guidelines designed to reduce the risk of infection. These include wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, and protective clothing when handling sick or dead birds, as well as avoiding any contact with potentially contaminated surfaces like bedding material or animal waste.
Infected wild birds, even those that do not appear ill, can still transmit the virus, further highlighting the need for caution among those in areas with known bird flu outbreaks.
For more information on H5N1 bird flu, including updates on case counts and CDC recommendations, visit the CDC’s official H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation page.
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