LOUISIANA, KATC — As the avian flu continues to spread across the United States, experts are urging caution, especially when handling wild birds and chickens. While the risk of infection to the general public remains low, the recent rise in human cases linked to backyard flocks has raised concerns.
Last week, Louisiana recorded the nation’s first severe human case of avian influenza, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The case was linked to exposure to dead birds in a backyard flock.
Dr. Mark Mitchell, Director of Wildlife at Louisiana State University, warned that if the virus were to spread among humans, it could pose a significant public health threat. “The avian influenza, the high pathogenic avian influenza — if it does get into humans and start to spread that way, it could be a real problem,” he said.
While human cases remain rare, experts stress that the virus, which cycles through bird populations annually, poses an ongoing risk.
Dr. Mitchell explained that the biggest concern is the potential for bird-to-human transmission, especially as migratory birds such as snow geese and ducks carry the virus. “Our biggest concern with this disease is similar to the last pandemic with SARS-CoV-2. When these viruses get into humans, like the cases in Louisiana, bird-to-human exposure is a serious threat,” Mitchell said.