First person dies in USA after bird flu infection

In the USA, a person has died for the first time after being infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. The Louisiana State Health Authority said it was a person who was older than 65 and also had other health problems.

The patient had contact with both wild birds and a flock in his garden, the authority said, without giving further details. The authority had already reported in December that the person was the first patient in the USA to become seriously ill after being infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Risk for the general population remains low

The H5N1 bird flu is currently widespread in wild birds around the world, and numerous wild mammals are also becoming infected. The virus also recently led to outbreaks in poultry and dairy farms in the USA.

However, the extent of this is largely unclear due to a lack of data. The CDC recorded cases primarily among employees of dairy and poultry farms, with mild courses. Human-to-human transmission has not yet been proven. The CDC continues to assess the risk to the general population as low. There have recently been reports of around 60 cases in people, including a child for the first time.