The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) on January 6, 2025, reported the first human death in the US state as well as the nation due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, commonly known as bird flu.
“The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions. The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds,” a statement posted on the Department’s website noted.
No additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission has been identified, according to LDH.
The current public health risk for the general public remains low. However, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk, according to LDH.
“The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses,” the statement noted.
The Department warned against touching sick or dead animals or their droppings. It urged cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.
“Avoid uncooked food products such as unpasteurized raw milk or cheeses from animals that have a suspected or confirmed infection,” according to the statement.
Those exposed to sick or dead birds or other animals or working on a farm where avian influenza has been detected, should watch for respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis, it added.
In India, three tigers and a leopard died recently after getting infected from HPAI H5N1 virus, at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur, Down To Earth had reported.
The development forced authorities in Maharashtra to issue a red alert for other zoos in the state.