The U.S. reported its first severe human case of bird flu in a Louisiana resident hospitalized in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock. The Louisiana Department of Health said the patient, over 65 with underlying conditions, faces higher risks. This marks the first case linked to backyard poultry, according to Demetre Daskalakis, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Bird flu has primarily affected dairy farm workers, with 61 confirmed human cases since April. The CDC noted that most infections in the U.S. involved cattle exposure, which poses less severe risks than infected birds. However, the Louisiana patient’s illness is tied to the D1.1 genotype, a strain found in wild birds and poultry, differing from the B3.13 genotype in dairy cattle and some poultry outbreaks.
California, the largest U.S. milk producer, declared a state of emergency over the H5N1 virus after it spread to 60% of dairy herds statewide, including recent outbreaks in Southern California. The emergency declaration aims to streamline containment efforts, said Governor Gavin Newsom. Nationwide, bird flu has infected over 860 dairy herds across 16 states and killed 123 million poultry since the outbreak began in 2022.
The USDA has launched a national bulk milk bird flu testing plan in 13 states, covering nearly half of the country’s milk supply. Experts caution that severe human cases remain rare, but sporadic infections are expected, as seen globally. The CDC reiterated that bird flu poses a low risk to the general public but urged continued vigilance.
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