The First US Bird Flu Death Is a Stark Warning
55 years ago

The First US Bird Flu Death Is a Stark Warning

Wired  

Yesterday, health officials in Louisiana announced that a patient who was hospitalized with severe bird flu in December has died. A total of 66 people in the US tested positive for bird flu in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The more virus there is in our environment, the more chances there are for it to come into contact with humans.” It was only a matter of time before bird flu turned deadly, she says. Since 2003, more than 850 human cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported outside the United States, and about half of those have resulted in death. In a statement released Monday, the CDC said a death from H5N1 bird flu “is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death.” Federal health officials say the risk of getting bird flu remains low for the general public, and there is no evidence that the virus is spreading from person to person anywhere in the country.

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History of this topic

US records its first human death from bird flu
Trending News
2 days, 18 hours ago

US records its first human death from bird flu

Live Mint  

The first human death linked to bird flu has been reported in the United States, health authorities in Louisiana announced Monday, while noting the patient had underlying medical conditions. ‘Risk of Human-to-Human Transmission Low’ The announcement in mid-December of the patient being in “critical condition” sparked alarm that the United States could see an outbreak of a possible bird flu …

US reports first bird flu-related death after 65-year-old succumbs in Louisiana
Top News
2 days, 21 hours ago

US reports first bird flu-related death after 65-year-old succumbs in Louisiana

India Today  

A US patient who had been hospitalised with H5N1 bird flu has died, the Louisiana Department of Health said on Monday, marking the country's first reported human death from the virus. The patient, who has not been identified, was hospitalised with the virus on December 18 after exposure to a combination of backyard chickens and wild birds, Louisiana health officials …

US reports first bird flu-related human death in Louisiana, health authorities issue statement
2 days, 21 hours ago

US reports first bird flu-related human death in Louisiana, health authorities issue statement

India TV News  

Bird flu in US: The United States has recorded its first human fatality linked to bird flu, as confirmed by Louisiana's Department of Health. In an official statement, the Louisiana Department of Health stated the patient, who had been hospitalised after contracting H5N1 from exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, has passed away. The …

First US bird flu death is announced in Louisiana
2 days, 23 hours ago

First US bird flu death is announced in Louisiana

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The first U.S. bird flu death has been reported — a person in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms. Since March, 66 confirmed bird flu infections have been reported in the U.S., but previous illnesses have been mild and most have been detected among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows. The bird …

First bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the CDC
3 days, 21 hours ago

First bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the CDC

NPR  

First bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the CDC toggle caption Callista Images/Getty Images The U.S. has recorded its first death of a person infected with bird flu. Sponsor Message "We have 20-plus years of data showing that it's a pretty nasty virus," said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of …

America’s first bird flu death reported in Louisiana
3 days, 21 hours ago

America’s first bird flu death reported in Louisiana

CNN  

CNN — The first person to have a severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States has died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Since 2003, there have been roughly 900 human bird flu infections reported globally, and about half of those people have died, according to the World Health Organization. The Louisiana patient was infected with …

First U.S. fatality from bird flu reported in Louisiana
3 days, 21 hours ago

First U.S. fatality from bird flu reported in Louisiana

LA Times  

This colorized electron microscope image released by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on March 26, 2024, shows avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles, grown in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney epithelial cells. A Louisiana resident infected by H5N1 bird flu has died, state authorities there reported Monday, marking the first U.S. death from the disease. It would be wrong …

US reports first death linked to bird flu in Louisiana
Trending News
3 days, 21 hours ago

US reports first death linked to bird flu in Louisiana

Al Jazeera  

The late patient had been hospitalised in December with severe respiratory symptoms after contact with infected birds. The United States has recorded its first death from bird flu after a 65-year-old patient who was hospitalised on December 18 passed away. “Current general public health risk remains low.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed 66 human cases in …

First U.S. death from bird flu reported in Louisiana
3 days, 21 hours ago

First U.S. death from bird flu reported in Louisiana

Salon  

On Monday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported that a patient with a severe case of bird flu, caused by the H5N1 virus, had died from their infection, a first for the United States. Even before the patient died, their case made headlines for several reasons: bird flu is raging across North America, swamping dairy and poultry farms and causing …

‘Worrisome’ mutations found in H5N1 bird flu virus isolated from Canadian teenager
1 week, 2 days ago

‘Worrisome’ mutations found in H5N1 bird flu virus isolated from Canadian teenager

LA Times  

A California Department of Food and Agriculture technician perform tests on chickens for bird flu in 2006 at the Best Live Poultry & Fish store in Sylmar. The fate of a Canadian teenager who was infected with H5N1 bird flu in early November, and subsequently admitted to an intensive care unit, has finally been revealed: She has fully recovered. But …

Which infectious disease is likely to be biggest emerging problem in 2025?
1 week, 4 days ago

Which infectious disease is likely to be biggest emerging problem in 2025?

The Hindu  

COVID emerged suddenly, spread rapidly and killed millions of people around the world. Indeed, bird flu can infect humans with 61 cases in the U.S. this year already, mostly resulting from farm workers coming into contact with infected cattle and people drinking raw milk. Coupling this with a 30% mortality rate from human infections, bird flu is quickly jumping up …

Bird flu may be mutating to become more transmissible to humans say scientists after woman caught first severe case in the US
1 week, 5 days ago

Bird flu may be mutating to become more transmissible to humans say scientists after woman caught first severe case in the US

Daily Mail  

Bird flu could be mutating to become more transmissible to humans, scientists have warned, as the US reported its first severe case that left one woman hospitalised. So far 65 confirmed human cases of H5N1 infection have been reported in 2024, following a widespread outbreak across bird and cattle farms in the United States. Pictured: Culling has begun at infected …

'We are screwed': Virologists warn about disease they say could become the next pandemic
1 week, 6 days ago

'We are screwed': Virologists warn about disease they say could become the next pandemic

Raw Story  

A new report from PBS highlights the potential danger of bird flu turning into a full-blown pandemic in the United States. In particular, PBS spoke with several experts who said the United States has been behind the ball when it comes to keeping a handle on the pandemic and they point to the fact that the United States Department of …

Bird flu outbreak claims lives of 20 wildcats at Washington sanctuary
1 week, 6 days ago

Bird flu outbreak claims lives of 20 wildcats at Washington sanctuary

Hindustan Times  

A sanctuary in Washington state was struck with tragedy as their 20 wildcats died due to a bird flu outbreak which has affected animal lives at poultry farms, dairy cattle and even some human lives. Tragedy at Washington wildlife sanctuary as 20 wildcats die from bird flu outbreak. Washington sanctuary mourns wildcats’ death The non-profit organisation reported that various types …

Bird flu virus likely mutated within a Louisiana patient, CDC says
1 week, 6 days ago

Bird flu virus likely mutated within a Louisiana patient, CDC says

Associated Press  

A genetic analysis suggests the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient who contracted the nation’s first severe case of the illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week. “Right now, this is a key that sits in the lock, but it doesn’t open the door.” The virus has been causing sporadic, mostly mild illnesses …

This Disease Is Likely To Be Biggest Emerging Problem In 2025
Trending News
2 weeks ago

This Disease Is Likely To Be Biggest Emerging Problem In 2025

ABP News  

Nottingham, Dec 26 COVID emerged suddenly, spread rapidly and killed millions of people around the world. Indeed, bird flu can infect humans with 61 cases in the US this year already, mostly resulting from farm workers coming into contact with infected cattle and people drinking raw milk. Coupling this with a 30% mortality rate from human infections, bird flu is …

Twenty big cats die after contracting bird flu at Washington State animal sanctuary
2 weeks ago

Twenty big cats die after contracting bird flu at Washington State animal sanctuary

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Twenty big cats have …

Letters to the Editor: L.A. Times’ coverage of the bird flu is a great public service
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Letters to the Editor: L.A. Times’ coverage of the bird flu is a great public service

LA Times  

To the editor: Thanks to The Times’ editorial staff for publishing Dr. Peter Chin-Hong’s Dec. 20 opinion piece, “Bird flu is coming for humans. We can either get ready or court disaster.” Thanks also to The Times for its excellent coverage of the spread of H5N1 across our state and nation. As a physician who cared for patients, families and …

Why scientists say we are fighting H5N1 bird flu with one hand tied behind our backs
2 weeks, 2 days ago

Why scientists say we are fighting H5N1 bird flu with one hand tied behind our backs

LA Times  

As the H5N1 bird flu virus steamrolls its way across the globe — killing wild animals, commercial livestock and even some people — scientists and health officials fear we’re on the precipice of another global pandemic. “YES.” Felicia Goodrum, a molecular virologist at the University of Arizona, said gain-of-function research could enable health officials to recognize worrisome H5N1 mutations and …

LA County warns bird flu is killing cats as human cases top 65 nationwide
2 weeks, 2 days ago

LA County warns bird flu is killing cats as human cases top 65 nationwide

Salon  

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued a warning about bird flu, caused by the virus H5N1, that is killing domestic cats. “The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but these confirmed cases of the virus in pet cats are a reminder that consuming raw dairy and meat products can lead to …

How America lost control of bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic
2 weeks, 2 days ago

How America lost control of bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic

Salon  

Keith Poulsen’s jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October. “I don’t know if the bird flu will become a pandemic, but if it does, we are screwed.” To understand how the bird flu got out of hand, KFF Health News interviewed nearly 70 government officials, farmers and farmworkers, …

L.A. County resident infected by bird flu as county spreads awareness
2 weeks, 3 days ago

L.A. County resident infected by bird flu as county spreads awareness

LA Times  

This colorized electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2024 shows avian influenza A virus particles, red-yellow, grown in cultured cells. Los Angeles County reported its first case of human H5N1 bird flu infection Monday, as health officials sought to spread public awareness of the threat. The infected person was an adult who …

California declared an emergency. How serious is bird flu?
3 weeks ago

California declared an emergency. How serious is bird flu?

Associated Press  

California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu, which is tearing through dairy cows in that state and causing sporadic illnesses in people in the U.S. That raises new questions about the virus, which has spread for years in wild birds, commercial poultry and many mammal species. One person in Louisiana has been hospitalized …

California declares state of emergency amid rising bird flu cases
Trending News
3 weeks ago

California declares state of emergency amid rising bird flu cases

India Today  

The US reported its first severe human case of bird flu on Wednesday in a Louisiana resident who is hospitalised in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock. Severe respiratory illness in the Louisiana patient shows increased health risks for people from the virus that previously caused eye redness, or conjunctivitis, in infected dairy workers. "The mild …

What to know about Newsom’s state of emergency over bird flu
3 weeks ago

What to know about Newsom’s state of emergency over bird flu

LA Times  

An animal caretaker collects a blood sample from a dairy calf vaccinated against bird flu at the National Animal Disease Center research facility in Ames, Iowa, on July 31, 2024. State of emergency declared in California while CDC confirms severe case of bird flu in Louisiana California’s response to rising cases of bird flu among dairy herds kicked into high …

California declares state of emergency over bird flu
3 weeks ago

California declares state of emergency over bird flu

Raw Story  

Gavin Newsom officially declared a state of emergency over bird flu concerns Wednesday, a step he said was necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. The bird flu disease – known as Type A H5N1 – has already appeared among dairy cattle in 16 states and has been spreading rapidly in California, Newsom said in a news release. Newsom’s …

California declares bird flu state of emergency after Louisiana patient suffers first severe case
3 weeks ago

California declares bird flu state of emergency after Louisiana patient suffers first severe case

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The news comes after health officials announced that a person in Louisiana has the first …

CDC Confirms First US Case of Severe Bird Flu
55 years ago

CDC Confirms First US Case of Severe Bird Flu

Wired  

The United States has now seen dozens of human bird flu cases this year, all of them mild—until now. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Wednesday that a patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza caused by the H5N1 virus. An investigation by the Louisiana Department of Health and CDC has determined …

First severe bird flu case in U.S. reported in Louisiana, according to health officials
3 weeks, 1 day ago

First severe bird flu case in U.S. reported in Louisiana, according to health officials

Deccan Chronicle  

NEW YORK: A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., health officials said Wednesday. The Louisiana case is different because the person's hospitalization is due to the flu symptoms, CDC officials said. Last month, Canadian officials reported that a teen in British Columbia was hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu. …

U.S. Health Officials Confirm First Severe Case Of Bird Flu, California Declares Emergency
3 weeks, 1 day ago

U.S. Health Officials Confirm First Severe Case Of Bird Flu, California Declares Emergency

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Health officials on Wednesday confirmed the first known severe illness in the U.S. caused by bird flu, and California’s governor declared a state of emergency as the virus rampages through dairy cattle in that state. A person in Louisiana is hospitalized in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms caused by a bird flu infection, state health officials …

Bird flu: Louisiana patient is first severe case and California declares emergency
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Bird flu: Louisiana patient is first severe case and California declares emergency

Associated Press  

Health officials on Wednesday confirmed the first known severe illness in the U.S. caused by bird flu, and California’s governor declared a state of emergency as the virus rampages through dairy cattle in that state. A person in Louisiana is hospitalized in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms caused by a bird flu infection, state health officials said. CDC officials …

US identifies 65-year-old in Louisiana as first severe case of bird flu
Trending News
3 weeks, 1 day ago

US identifies 65-year-old in Louisiana as first severe case of bird flu

Al Jazeera  

Health officials say the 65-year-old was hospitalised after contact with an infected flock of back-yard birds. A 65-year-old in the southern state of Louisiana has been hospitalised in critical condition as the result of the bird flu, becoming the first severe case reported in the United States. “CDC confirms first severe case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the US. “This …

Bird flu update: California declares emergency and U.S. sees 1st severe human case
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Bird flu update: California declares emergency and U.S. sees 1st severe human case

NPR  

Bird flu update: California declares emergency and U.S. sees 1st severe human case toggle caption National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/AP California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in response to the ongoing spread of bird flu among dairy cattle. Genetic sequencing indicates the H5N1 virus responsible for the illness belongs to a genetic lineage that's …

First severe bird flu case in US reported in Louisiana
3 weeks, 1 day ago

First severe bird flu case in US reported in Louisiana

India Today  

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1 bird flu, the first such case in the United States. Health officials emphasize that bird flu is still mainly an animal health issue, and the risk to the general public remains low. Signs and symptoms of Bird Flu: …

Gov. Newsom declares emergency in California after CDC confirms severe case of bird flu in Louisiana
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Gov. Newsom declares emergency in California after CDC confirms severe case of bird flu in Louisiana

LA Times  

Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday as the H5N1 bird flu virus moved from the Central Valley to Southern California dairy herds, while federal officials confirmed the first U.S. case of severe illness in a hospitalized Louisiana patient — a concerning development as the virus continues to spread throughout the nation via migrating birds. “These additional laboratory investigations …

Bird flu hospitalizes person in Louisiana, the first severe infection in U.S.
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Bird flu hospitalizes person in Louisiana, the first severe infection in U.S.

Salon  

A person has been hospitalized with bird flu in Louisiana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking the first time since the outbreak began that an infection with the H5N1 virus reached such severity. Although another severe case hospitalized in a teenager in Canada last month, this is the first severe case reported in the U.S. Related …

Health officials say Louisiana patient is first severe bird flu case in U.S.
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Health officials say Louisiana patient is first severe bird flu case in U.S.

LA Times  

This colorized electron microscope image released by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on March 26 shows avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles, grown in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney epithelial cells. A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., health officials said Wednesday. The Louisiana case is different because the person’s …

Opinion: Bird flu is coming for humans. We can either get ready or court disaster
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Opinion: Bird flu is coming for humans. We can either get ready or court disaster

LA Times  

Bird flu has seen a resurgence in the U.S. this year, with California leading the pack. Since 2022, millions of egg-laying chickens have been exposed to, infected with and culled or killed by H5N1 in the U.S. What stands out this year is how widespread the infection has been among dairy cows, which are spreading it to farmworkers — the …

Mega-Farms Are Driving the Threat of Bird Flu
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Mega-Farms Are Driving the Threat of Bird Flu

Wired  

This story originally appeared on Inside Climate News and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration. “It’s a lot of trouble.” Further north and west, in the San Joaquin Valley—the heart of the state’s dairy industry—the H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu, has rippled through the massive herds that provide most of the country’s milk. The Centers for Disease …

Could bird flu trigger another pandemic?
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Could bird flu trigger another pandemic?

Firstpost  

The deadly bird flu variant H5N1 is spreading more widely than ever before. Reuters H5N1 bird flu, a type of avian influenza, is once again making headlines after dozens of people in the United States were infected with the virus. Late last month, the headline of an opinion piece in the New York Times stated, “A bird flu pandemic would …

We're Pandemic Experts. Here's What Worries Us Most About Bird Flu.
4 weeks, 1 day ago

We're Pandemic Experts. Here's What Worries Us Most About Bird Flu.

Huff Post  

Jonathan R. Beckerman via Getty Images Experts are concerned for farm workers who are most likely to get sick from bird flu. you might be able to give the H5N1 virus genes that make it more virulent in people or that make it possible to transmit more easily from person to person, and that’s definitely something we want to prevent.” …

Health Experts Warn of Bird Flu's Pandemic Threat
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Health Experts Warn of Bird Flu's Pandemic Threat

Deccan Chronicle  

Paris: Health experts have been sounding the alarm about the potential pandemic threat posed by bird flu, which has been showing signs of mutating as it spreads among cows and infects people in the United States. The deadly bird flu variant H5N1 first emerged in China in 1996, but over the last four years it has sp More than 300 …

Authorities probe whether presumptive bird flu case is connected to raw milk
4 weeks, 2 days ago

Authorities probe whether presumptive bird flu case is connected to raw milk

LA Times  

Public health authorities are seeking to determine if a Marin County child stricken with flu could have potentially contracted the illness by drinking infected raw milk that was subject to a recall. “Since announcing multiple recalls of raw milk due to contamination with bird flu, state and local public health experts have received reports of illnesses from 10 individuals who …

US orders testing of milk supply for bird flu amid growing concerns
1 month ago

US orders testing of milk supply for bird flu amid growing concerns

Deccan Chronicle  

The US government has taken steps to better monitor the spread of bird flu among dairy cows, ordering testing of the nation’s milk supply for the H5N1 virus. While bird flu is typically associated with poultry, recent evidence suggests that it has begun spreading to cows, with initial reports indicating transmission through a single event likely in late 2023. Although …

Arizona sees first case of human bird flu as government begins testing milk for virus
1 month ago

Arizona sees first case of human bird flu as government begins testing milk for virus

Raw Story  

Bird flu has officially jumped from birds to infect two people in Arizona, AZFamily reported Friday. While cases of the disease, known as Type A H5N1, jumping to humans in California have previously been reported, this is the first case in Arizona, the report said. In March, the first case of bird flu was detected in U.S. cows' milk. "The …

A single mutation could make bird flu much worse, study finds
1 month ago

A single mutation could make bird flu much worse, study finds

Salon  

As the number of human bird flu cases continues to rise and more dairy farms across the country report outbreaks, scientists are increasingly concerned that the H5N1 virus will mutate to better infect people. In the lab, the authors of the study found that a single mutation in the primary protein, hemagglutinin could give it the ability to cling onto …

Just one mutation can make H5N1 bird flu a threat to humans, California researchers say
1 month ago

Just one mutation can make H5N1 bird flu a threat to humans, California researchers say

LA Times  

California researchers say the world may be just one genetic tweak away from human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 bird flu virus — a worrisome mutation that could open the door to widespread human infections and possibly even a pandemic, according to some experts. In a study published Thursday in the journal Science, Scripps Research Institute biologists determined that a single …

Letters to the Editor: A doctor’s fear that we’re careening toward a bird flu disaster
1 month ago

Letters to the Editor: A doctor’s fear that we’re careening toward a bird flu disaster

LA Times  

Bird flu outbreaks at dairy farms are sparking fears of a major threat to human health. To the editor: As a retired public health and emergency medicine physician, I want to thank you for your recent articles about the bird flu, most recently those articles by Times reporters Susanne Rust and Melissa Gomez. The combination of a mutating and potentially …

Bird flu is getting worse. Disease experts worry Trump and RFK Jr. will mangle response like COVID
1 month, 1 week ago

Bird flu is getting worse. Disease experts worry Trump and RFK Jr. will mangle response like COVID

Salon  

As America gears up for the year's end and a change in administration, the topic of public health has dominated many conversations throughout the election season, but one facet has been noticeably absent: bird flu. “It would be important for the Trump administration, as it's rolling out its team that's going to be heading CDC, HHS, USDA, that they talk …

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