At least 66 instances of bird flu have been reported in the United States, marking the somber milestone of the country’s first human fatality from the illness.
Considered the nation’s first serious human H5N1 infection, the patient, who was over 65 and had underlying medical issues, was admitted to a Louisiana hospital in December.
The patient was exposed to both wild and backyard birds, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
In a statement, the Department offered its sincere condolences to the patient’s friends and family as they grieve the loss of a loved one. This will be the patient’s last update due to patient confidentiality and family respect.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all but one of the documented human bird flu cases in the United States have occurred within the past ten months. The majority of cases have been minor, with symptoms like sneezes, coughing, and pinkeye.
Most of the patients contracted the disease after coming into contact with infected poultry or livestock. The first case connected to exposure to a backyard flock was the patient from Louisiana.
There have only been two instances where patients had no known animal exposure. One was a patient in Missouri who was admitted to the hospital in September due to bird flu but recovered after receiving antiviral medicine. The other was a toddler in November who had moderate symptoms in California.
There is no proof that the virus has transmitted from person to person, which would be a catastrophic development in the history of bird flu, according to public health officials. But according to the CDC, samples of the virus taken from the Louisiana patients revealed evidence of changes that would increase its human transmissibility.
According to the CDC, there is little immediate risk to public health. According to the EPA last month, an occasional instance of severe H5N1 bird flu infection in a human is not surprising.
The CDC warns those who are worried about the possibility of bird flu not to consume unpasteurized raw milk or come into touch with sick or dead animals. Workers on H5N1-affected poultry or dairy farms should wear personal protective equipment and keep an eye out for symptoms.
A month ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized testing of the nation’s milk supply, beginning in six states, as part of a stepped-up federal response to avian flu. Last week, the Biden administration also allocated $306 million for further avian flu surveillance, lab testing, and medical research.
However, the U.S. reaction has been criticized by some analysts for being too restricted or delayed.
Two former Food and Drug Administration officials submitted an editorial in The Washington Post on Friday, arguing that the Biden administration has been handling the cow disease improperly for months, raising the risk of a disastrous, wider spread.
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