First Serious Case of Avian Influenza Reported in the United States

louisiana, united states - A patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with avian influenza, marking the first serious case in the United States.

In the state of Louisiana, a patient has been admitted to the hospital with avian influenza, marking the first serious case in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday.

The individual in question had contact with sick and dead animals, the CDC added. Since April, 61 human cases of avian influenza have been recorded in the US.

The CDC notes that an occasional severe case of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in humans is not unexpected, as it has occurred before.

This strain of avian influenza first emerged in 1996, but since 2020, the number of outbreaks in birds has surged, with mammals also frequently affected. US health authorities continue to believe that the risk to public health is low.