ATLANTA (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Wednesday the first case of severe bird flu in the United States, marking a significant development in the spread of the virus among humans.
The patient, who was hospitalized in Louisiana, contracted the virus after exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, officials said. This marks the first U.S. case of human bird flu linked to backyard flock exposure, differing from recent cases connected to dairy cattle.
Genomic analysis revealed the patient was infected with a variant of the virus previously identified in wild birds and poultry across the U.S., as well as in human cases in Canada and Washington state. This strain differs from the version currently spreading through dairy cows and some poultry populations.
Since April, the CDC has recorded 61 human cases of bird flu in the United States. Most cases have been mild, with patients recovering after antiviral treatment. While one previous case in Missouri required hospitalization, officials attributed this primarily to underlying health conditions.
“The best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid exposure whenever possible,” the CDC stated, noting that infected birds shed the virus through saliva, mucous, and feces. The agency emphasized that infected animals may also transmit the virus through respiratory secretions and unpasteurized milk.
Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue, with some patients experiencing more severe complications like pneumonia. The CDC maintains that while the risk to the general public remains low, individuals working with birds, poultry, or cows face higher exposure risks.
In response to the growing concern, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a federal order last week mandating nationwide collection and testing of raw milk samples for bird flu. This followed the discovery of the virus in raw milk from a California farm, which subsequently recalled its products and was placed under quarantine.
No person-to-person transmission has been detected, according to health officials.
