First Severe Human Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the U.S. and California's State of Emergency
In a significant development, the United States has reported its first severe human case of H5N1 avian influenza. A resident of southwestern Louisiana has been hospitalized after exposure to sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. This case marks the first known severe human illness linked to the bird flu virus in the country.
Details of the Louisiana Case
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on December 18, 2024. The patient is experiencing severe respiratory illness and is currently in critical condition.
Genomic analysis revealed that the virus belongs to the D1.1 genotype, previously identified in wild birds and poultry in the U.S., as well as in human cases in British Columbia and Washington state. This instance is notable for being the first linked to backyard, non-commercial poultry in the U.S.
California's State of Emergency
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