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CDC Confirms First Severe Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the United States
1 year ago •source cdc.gov
Louisiana, United States
In a recent development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States. The patient, located in Louisiana, has been hospitalized due to the infection. This marks the first severe illness linked to the H5N1 bird flu in the country, with a total of 61 reported human cases since April 2024.The H5N1 avian influenza virus that infected the patient is of the D1.1 genotype, similar to other D1.1 viruses recently detected in wild birds, poultry in the United States, and human cases in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington state. This genotype differs from the B3.13 genotype found in dairy cows and some poultry outbreaks in the United States. The CDC is currently conducting additional genomic sequencing and efforts to isolate the virus from clinical specimens from the Louisiana patient.
The source of the infection is still under investigation, but it has been determined that the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. This is the first case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. linked to exposure to a backyard flock. Despite this case, the CDC maintains that the immediate risk to the public's health from H5N1 bird flu remains low. However, this case highlights that wild birds and backyard flocks can also be a source of exposure, and those with work or recreational exposures to infected animals should follow CDC's recommended precautions.
If you or a loved one are harmed or experiencing any symptoms, it is important to report it. Reporting can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist, seek medical care.
Source: www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/m1218-h5n1-flu.html
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