A Louisiana man is hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu after coming into contact with a sick and dying bird suspected of carrying the virus. State health officials announced Friday..
This is the first human H5N1 infection detected in Louisiana. At this time, the case is considered a “presumptive” positive until test results are confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials are warning people to stay away from sick or dead birds, although the risk to the public is low. A spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Health told Ars that the hospitalized patient had contact with both backyard and wild birds.
The person is hospitalized, but his condition has not been reported. A spokesperson said the department would not comment on the patient’s condition, citing patient confidentiality and the ongoing public health investigation.
This case is just the latest in the global spread of H5N1. domestic violence. The virus has been ravaging wild, backyard, and commercial birds in the United States since early 2022, and has spread to an alarmingly wide range of mammals. In March of this year, authorities discovered an unprecedented surge in dairy cows, which has since sparked a nationwide outbreak. The virus is currently spreading through California, the country’s largest dairy producer.
At least 845 herds in 16 states have been infected with the virus since March, including 630 in California, where dairy infections were first detected in late August. .
for humans
At least 60 people in the US This year, with the spread of the virus, there are also cases of infection. But a new case in Louisiana stands out. To date, unlike the new cases in Louisiana, nearly all human cases have occurred among poultry and dairy farm workers; The symptoms were mild. Most cases include conjunctivitis (bleeding eyes) and mild respiratory or flu-like symptoms.
A case has occurred in a hospitalized patient in Missouri. However, the person had underlying health conditions, and it is unclear whether H5N1 was the cause of the hospitalization or if it was just a coincidental finding. It remains unclear how the person contracted the virus. Extensive investigation found no animal or other exposures that could explain the infection.
