The Louisiana Department of Health reported that the patient hospitalized with H5N1, bird flu, has passed away. The patient was over the age of 65 and had underlying medical conditions.
The individual contracted H5N1 after “exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds,” the health department said.
According to the release, the patient was the only human case of bird flu in Louisiana.
“The Department expresses its deepest condolences to the patient’s family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one,” the department said. “Due to patient confidentiality and respect for the family, this will be the final update about the patient.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Dec. 26 that it “identified low frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of a sample sequenced from the patient, which were not found in virus sequences from poultry samples collected on the patient’s property, suggesting the changes emerged in the patient after infection.”
Outgoing President Joe Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) set aside $306 million to monitor the development of bird flu.
“While the risk to humans remains low, we are always preparing for any possible scenario that could arise. These investments are critical to continuing our disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and monitoring efforts alongside our partners at USDA,” Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “Preparedness is the key to keeping Americans healthy and our country safe. We will continue to ensure our response is strong, well equipped, and ready for whatever is needed.”
