First U.S. Death From Bird Flu Reported in Louisiana

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized with bird flu in December of last year, marking the first known U.S. death from the virus.

The patient who, "was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions," state health officials announced in a statement, tested positive for the virus and developed severe illness after exposure to wild birds and a personal backyard poultry flock that was infested with H5N1.

No other human cases have been identified in the state.