Jan. 6 (UPI) — The first patient hospitalized with avian influenza in the United States has died in Louisiana, the state’s department of health announced Monday.
The Louisiana Department of Health said the patient, who has not been identified, was over the age of 65 and was “reported to have underlying medical conditions .” The health department reassured residents that the general public health risk from H5N1 “remains low.”
“LDH’s extensive public health investigation has identified no additional H5N1 cases, nor evidence of person-to-person transmission. This patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana,” the health department said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the human case of bird flu on Dec. 18, after the patient was believed to have been exposed to sick and dead birds on their property.
“The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure,” according to the Louisiana Department of Health. “That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.”