The primary human loss of life linked to fowl flu has been reported in america, well being authorities in Louisiana introduced Monday, whereas noting the affected person had underlying medical circumstances.
The affected person, aged over 65, had been hospitalized for a respiratory ailment, and was the primary severe case of human an infection of the H5N1 virus to be detected in america.
The announcement in mid-December of the affected person being in “critical condition” sparked alarm that america may see an outbreak of a doable fowl flu pandemic, with comparable instances reported worldwide.
“The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds,” the Louisiana Division of Well being stated in an announcement.
Regardless of this loss of life, the general public well being threat posed by fowl flu stays “low,” the assertion stated, including that it had detected no human-to-human transmission.
“While the current public health risk for the general public remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk,” it warned.
Genetic sequencing has proven that the H5N1 virus that contaminated the Louisiana affected person was completely different from the model of the virus detected in lots of dairy herds and poultry farms across the nation.
H5N1 was first detected in 1996, however since 2020, the variety of outbreaks amongst fowl flocks has exploded, whereas a rising variety of mammal species have been affected.
Specialists are involved {that a} excessive circulation of the virus in mammals may result in mutations that make it extra simply unfold amongst people.
