A patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1 bird flu, the first such case in the United States. The patient was exposed to sick and dead birds on their property, which is a backyard flock, and not a commercial poultry farm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the patient is experiencing severe respiratory illness related to H5N1 and is hospitalized in critical condition.
The patient is over 65 years old and has underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of flu complications. This is the first US bird flu case linked to a backyard flock, and the CDC is working on additional genomic sequencing of samples from the patient.
Bird flu has been linked to severe human illness and death in other countries, but no person-to-person spread has been detected. The CDC said that the overall risk to the public’s health from H5N1 bird flu remains low.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the continued spread of H5N1 bird flu in the state, citing the need for government agencies to have the resources and flexibility to respond quickly to the outbreak. The emergency declaration will give state agencies greater flexibility with staffing and funding for the response.
Experts urges people with backyard chicken flocks, hunters, and other bird enthusiasts to take precautions to avoid exposure to the virus. The CDC recommends avoiding exposure to infected birds and animals, as infected birds can shed viruses in their saliva, mucus, and feces, and other animals may shed them in their respiratory secretions and bodily fluids.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta writes that one type of milk poses a significant risk amid bird flu cases, and that the CDC recommends avoiding exposure to infected animals and following precautions around infected or potentially infected animals. The CDC is working to understand the factors that increase a person’s risk of infection, which is still unknown.
