The United States has confirmed its first severe human infection of H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana. The person likely contracted the virus from contact with sick or dead birds in a backyard flock. Until now, all confirmed H5N1 cases in the US had mild symptoms. Genetic sequencing indicates that the virus circulating in wild birds is different from the version in US dairy cows. A recent severe case in a Canadian teenager was also caused by a similar strain. The teenager is no longer in critical care but remains in the hospital. Patient confidentiality limits the information that can be shared about these cases.
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First severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. is confirmed by CDC
