The Louisiana Department of Health announced the first U.S. human death caused by the deadly bird flu virus, also known as avian influenza A (H5N1), on Monday amid concerns of increased bird flu cases throughout the United States.
In a Monday press release, the Louisiana Department of Health wrote, “The patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana and the U.S. has died.”
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, the unidentified patient was over 65 years old and had “underlying medical conditions.” The department noted that the patient contracted the bird flu virus after being exposed to a “non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.”
In Monday’s press release, the Louisiana Department of Health said an “extensive public health investigation” found no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the bird flu virus. The department also confirmed that the deceased patient currently remains the only human case of the deadly illness in Louisiana.
“While the current public health risk for the general public remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk,” the Louisiana Department of Health stated.
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The Louisiana Department of Health explained that the best way for people to protect themselves against the bird flu virus is to avoid any sources of exposure, including direct contact with wild birds and animals infected with bird flu viruses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued a press release on Monday concerning the first U.S. human death caused by the bird flu virus. The CDC said it was “saddened” by Louisiana’s report that the individual “hospitalized with severe avian influenza A” had died.
“While tragic, a death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death,” the CDC wrote. “As of January 6, 2025, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022.”
The CDC explained that over 950 cases of the bird flu virus have been reported to the World Health Organization and that roughly half of the cases have resulted in death.
“CDC has carefully studied the available information about the person who died in Louisiana and continues to assess that the risk to the general public remains low,” the CDC added. “Most importantly, no person-to-person transmission spread has been identified. As with the case in Louisiana, most H5 bird flu infections are related to animal-to-human exposures.”
