The H5N1 bird flu claimed the life of a patient over 65 years of age in the state of Louisiana, which reported this Monday the first death of a person in the United States due to the strain.
It is about the only case of contagion human in Louisiana from bird flu, which since the end of last year in particular has affected livestock birds and wild birds, as well as some flocks. States like California have even declared a state of emergency due to the number of cases.
The person who died had underlying health conditions, according to the Louisiana Department of Health, and contracted H5N1 from exposure to both a flock of birds from a non-commercial pen and wild birds.
“Due to medical information privacy issues and out of respect for the family, this will be the only information we will share about this patient,” the health department said.
Across the United States there are at least 66 reported and confirmed cases of bird flu in humans. Virtually all cases have been reported in the past 10 months, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and most cases have been mild with symptoms consisting only of sneezing or coughing.
In Louisiana, investigations by the state health department “have not identified any other cases of H5N1 or evidence of human-to-human transmission,” the official statement emphasizes.
Therefore, Louisiana authorities said the risk to the general public is still low.
However, the Department of Health stressed that those who work with birds or have been exposed should be aware of symptoms of respiratory distress or conjunctivitis and monitor any health issues in the first 10 days after that contact.
While the general public should take precautions such as staying away from animals such as birds that look sick, do not consume raw foods such as eggs or uncooked chicken, nor drink unpasteurized milk or eat cheese from places where there is confirmed infection.
The United States Department of Agriculture also has a monitoring service where cases of sick or deceased birds or other animals can be reported by calling 1-866-536-7593 for follow-up.
With information from AP and NBC News
