CDC confirms first severe case of bird flu in the U.S.

Investing.com — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday a patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with serious illness, linked to sick birds, as it confirmed first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S.

The case was confirmed by the CDC on Friday, December 13. Since April 2024, there have been a total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States.

Partial viral genome data of the infected the patient in Louisiana indicates that the virus belongs to the D1.1 genotype, related to other D1.1 viruses recently detected in wild birds and poultry in the United States and in recent human cases.

This H5N1 bird flu genotype is different than the B3.13 genotype detected in dairy cows, sporadic human cases in multiple states, and some poultry outbreaks in the United States. 

Additional genomic sequencing and efforts to isolate virus from clinical specimens from the patient in Louisiana are underway at CDC, the agency said in the statement.

CDC said, this case underscores that, in addition to affected commercial poultry and dairy operations, wild birds and backyard flocks also can be a source of exposure.