A patient in Louisiana has died of bird flu. Health authorities considered the case to be the first severe H5N1 infection in a U.S. resident.

Summary

The U.S. reported its first human death from bird flu, involving a Louisiana patient over 65 with underlying conditions who was exposed to a backyard flock and wild birds.

This marks the first severe H5N1 case in the U.S., though most of the 67 infections recorded have been mild.

The CDC maintains the risk of human transmission is low but noted mutations in the Louisiana case that could make the virus more transmissible.