A person in Louisiana contracted the nation’s first serious human case of avian influenza, or bird flu, and was admitted to the hospital in recent days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The CDC determined the person was likely exposed to H5N1 from sick or dead birds in a backyard flock – the first time a U.S. case has been linked to a backyard flock. Since April 2024, 61 human cases of bird flu have been reported in the U.S.
The virus has only spread from animals to humans. Should it spread from person to person, the level of public health concern would significantly increase. “CDC’s overall assessment of the immediate risk to the public’s health from H5N1 bird flu, which remains low,” the announcement stated , citing the Louisiana case.
Bird flu cases have been detected in eight states in 2024
On Wednesday, Wisconsin officials said a person who came into contact with sick animals at a commercial poultry facility may have contracted bird flu. The CDC has not yet confirmed that case…