Louisiana well being officers have reported the primary human loss of life from H5N1 avian influenza in the USA.
The deceased was a 66-year-old man with underlying well being situations who had been hospitalized with extreme respiratory signs.
He had direct contact with sick and useless birds in a yard flock, which is believed to be the supply of his an infection.
In December, the CDC confirmed the first severe U.S. human case of H5N1 bird flu in a Louisiana man who had contact with sick and useless birds in yard flocks.
In response to AP, genetic evaluation of the virus revealed mutations within the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, which specialists declare might improve the virus’s means to contaminate people.
These mutations have been allegedly absent in samples from the contaminated birds on the affected person’s property, suggesting that the virus could have mutated post-infection.
Well being authorities emphasize that there’s at the moment no proof of human-to-human transmission of the virus.
Nevertheless, they urge people who deal with birds to take precautions, together with sporting respiratory and eye safety and gloves when coping with sick or useless birds.
In response to the press release:
The Louisiana Division of Well being experiences the affected person who had been hospitalized with the primary human case of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana and the U.S. has died. The affected person was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical situations. The affected person contracted H5N1 after publicity to a mix of a non-commercial yard flock and wild birds.
LDH’s in depth public well being investigation has recognized no further H5N1 circumstances nor proof of person-to-person transmission. This affected person stays the one human case of H5N1 in Louisiana.
The Division expresses its deepest condolences to the affected person’s household and buddies as they mourn the lack of their cherished one. Resulting from affected person confidentiality and respect for the household, this would be the last replace in regards to the affected person.
Whereas the present public well being threat for most people stays low, individuals who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have leisure publicity to them, are at larger threat.
One of the best ways to guard your self and your loved ones from H5N1 is to keep away from sources of publicity. Meaning avoiding direct contact with wild birds and different animals contaminated with or suspected to be contaminated with chicken flu viruses.
Defending your self and others from H5N1 an infection
- Don’t contact sick or useless animals or their droppings and don’t convey sick wild animals into your private home.
- Hold your pets away from sick or useless animals and their feces.
- Don’t eat raw or undercooked meals. Prepare dinner poultry, eggs and different animal merchandise to the right temperature and stop cross-contamination between uncooked and cooked meals.
- Keep away from raw meals merchandise reminiscent of unpasteurized uncooked milk or cheeses from animals which have a suspected or confirmed an infection.
- For those who work on poultry or dairy farms, discuss to your supplier about getting your seasonal flu vaccination. It won’t forestall an infection with avian influenza viruses, however it could actually scale back the chance of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.
- Report useless or sick birds or animals to the USDA toll-free at 1-866-536-7593 or the Louisiana Division of Agriculture and Forestry Diagnostic Lab at 318-927-3441.
You probably have been uncovered to sick or useless birds or different animals or work on a farm the place avian influenza has been detected, look ahead to respiratory signs or conjunctivitis. For those who develop signs inside 10 days after publicity to sick or useless animals, inform your healthcare supplier that you’ve been in touch with sick animals and are involved about avian influenza. This may assist them offer you acceptable recommendation on testing and remedy. Keep residence and away from others when you have signs.
Since March 2024, there have been 66 confirmed human circumstances of chicken flu within the U.S., primarily amongst farmworkers uncovered to contaminated poultry or dairy cows. Most of those circumstances have been delicate.
In November, the CDC confirmed the first-ever case of bird flu in a child in the USA.
The younger affected person, a resident of California, reportedly skilled delicate signs and has since been recovering following remedy with flu antivirals.
For the reason that onset of the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in early 2022, roughly 130 million poultry birds have been affected throughout all 50 U.S. states.
This determine contains birds that both succumbed to the virus or have been culled to forestall additional unfold. The widespread impression of the virus has led to vital financial losses and disruptions inside the poultry trade.
Along with poultry, the outbreak has additionally affected wild chicken populations, with practically 11,000 wild birds detected with the virus as of January 3, 2025.
As of Monday, the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak has affected 917 dairy herds throughout 16 states in the USA.
