Louisiana man is first bird flu death in U.S., health officials say – NBC Chicago

The first bird flu death in the United States has been reported: a person in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms.

Louisiana health officials announced the death Monday.

Health officials said the person was older than 65, had underlying medical conditions and had contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. They also said genetic analysis suggested the bird flu virus had mutated inside the patient, which could have led to more severe illness.

They released few other details about the person.

Since March, 66 confirmed avian flu infections have been reported in the United States, but previous illnesses were mild and most were detected among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows. In two cases — an adult in Missouri and a child in California — health officials have not determined how they caught it.

The origin of this Louisiana man’s infection was not considered a mystery. But this is the first human case in the United States linked to exposure to backyard birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Louisiana officials say they are not aware of any other cases in their state, and U.S. officials have said they have no evidence the virus is spreading from person to person.

H5N1 avian influenza has spread widely among wild birds, poultry, cows and other animals. Its growing presence in the environment increases the chances that people will be exposed and potentially caught, officials said.

Authorities continue to urge people who come into contact with sick or dead birds to take precautions, including wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry.

Avian influenza or bird flu is a disease that spreads naturally among wild aquatic birds around the world, as well as among domestic poultry and other species of birds and animals.