The CDC reports the first death in the US linked to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, stressing the potential for severe illness and death. The case involved an individual exposed to sick birds in a backyard flock. While the risk to the general public remains low, the virus continues to spread among wild birds and poultry.
A CDC scientist in personal protective equipment isolates and tests for highly pathogenic avian influenza ( HPAI ), which is currently widespread in wild birds worldwide. The patient died after contracting what officials called the first case of “severe” illness linked to the virus. The patient’s age and gender were not released. The statement did not say whether the patient had underlying conditions that contributed to his or her death.
However, the CDC said it has been determined that the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. “While tragic, a death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death,” the CDC said in an agency press release. The virus, which has been detected in all 50 states, is also causing outbreaks in poultry flocks and U.S. dairy cows, particularly in western states, according to surveillance data. The CDC has also reported over 60 cases of bird flu related to individuals who had close contact with infected livestock or poultry since 2024. The last reported human case of bird flu was in 2022. As of Tuesday, there have been no reported cases of H5N1 bird flu in humans, domestic poultry, or cattle in New Jersey. Although bird flu is spreading in the U.S., the CDC says the risk to the general public still remains low. No person-to-person transmission spread has been identified. As with the patient in Louisiana, most bird flu infections are the result of animal-to-human exposures. “We continue to monitor the HPAI situations throughout the country,” said Jeff Wolfe, public information officer for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. “We regularly test backyard poultry flocks, as well as birds in live bird markets for HPAI. There were no positive tests in 2024 from those samples
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