Bird flu: US records first human death from H5N1 virus
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A person in the United States has died after contracting H5N1 bird flu, marking the country’s first death from the virus. The unidentified patient, who was over the age of 65 and suffered from underlying medical conditions, is believed to have contracted the virus following exposure to backyard flock and wild birds.
The Louisiana Department of Health, which confirmed the fatality, said there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission in the state. Officials expressed condolences to the person’s friends and family and confirmed there would be no further updates on the case.
The department also said that exposure to bird flu in the United States is currently “low”, but offered guidance on how to avoid contracting the pathogen, like avoiding sick or dead animals and not eating undercooked food. “The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure,” they said. “That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.”.
H5N1 is one of several highly infectious bird flu strains that is often spread among animals and, increasingly, humans. Most human cases have so far been reported among poultry workers, but the virus continues to be monitored by experts around the world.
According to the World Health Organisation, around 900 people are reported to have contracted this specific strain since 2003 and around half of those cases proved fatal. However, milder cases may not always be reported, so the fatality rate might not necessarily be as high.
