A Louisiana patient has been hospitalized with the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the US, health officials reported on Wednesday.
The big picture: The patient, over 65 years old and with underlying medical problems, had been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock, leading to critical conditions with severe respiratory symptoms.
- This is the first US human case linked to exposure to a backyard flock, which is a distinguishing factor from previous cases, signaling a potential new trend in bird flu infections.
Zoom out: More than 60 bird flu infections have been reported this year, with over half of them in California, and in two instances, the source of infection has not been determined.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the Louisiana infection, marking a significant shift from the previously mild cases predominantly among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows.
