December 18, 2024
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first case of severe bird flu in the United States. The patient, currently hospitalized in Louisiana, marks a significant concern as health officials work to understand the spread of this strain.
According to the federal health agency, no further details about the patient’s identity have been disclosed. Genomic analysis has revealed that the patient contracted a strain of the virus recently identified in wild birds and poultry across the U.S. This specific strain has also been linked to human cases in Canada and Washington state.
ABC News reports that this particular strain differs from the strain previously found in dairy cows and poultry populations in the U.S., highlighting the evolving nature of the virus.
The CDC noted that the Louisiana patient had direct contact with sick and dead birds from backyard flocks. This marks the first recorded human case of bird flu in the U.S. linked to exposure to backyard poultry. Health officials are actively investigating the source of the illness to prevent further spread.
Since April, a total of 61 cases of human bird flu have been reported in the United States, underscoring the ongoing concern regarding the virus’s impact on both human and animal populations.
