Man, 66, dies from bird flu marking first fatal case of virus in US amid fears it has pandemic potential

In the first recorded death from bird flu in the United States, a man passed away, raising concerns that the illness could spread like wildfire.

The terrible death was confirmed Monday by Louisiana health officials.

According to health experts, the individual had underlying medical issues and was older than 65.

Additionally, he had come into contact with dead and ill birds in a flock in his garden.

According to a genetic investigation, the patient may have had a more severe sickness as a result of a mutation in the bird flu virus.

A few more details about the individual have been made public.

It was not thought to be a mystery where the Louisiana person’s sickness came from.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was the first human case in the United States connected to exposure to backyard birds.

US officials have stated that they have no proof that the virus is spreading from person to person, and Louisiana officials claim they are not aware of any additional cases in their state.

A man in Louisiana was admitted to the hospital in December 2024 after contracting the highly contagious H5N1 avian flu.

Among wild birds, chickens, cows, and other animals, the H5N1 bird flu has been spreading extensively.

According to officials, people are more likely to be exposed to it and maybe contract it as a result of its increasing environmental prevalence.

Officials are still advising anyone who comes into touch with sick or dead animals to take measures, such as handling poultry with gloves and protective eye and respiratory gear.

ONE MUTATION AWAY FROM PANDEMIC

The newly identified H5N1 virus is already one mutation away from becoming contagious, according to US experts.

Researchers at Scripps Research in San Diego used virus samples from infected cattle to examine different genetic alterations.

They discovered that the Q226L mutation improved the virus’s capacity to bind to receptors on human-like cells, perhaps making bird flu behave similarly to other human flu viruses.

According to a recent case of avian flu, the virus may have already changed to spread more easily among people.

Amid its rapid spread among cows this year, the case, which was discovered this month in a hospitalized Louisiana man, is the first “severe” bird flu case in the United States.

According to tests, a mutation in H5N1 that facilitates its binding to human upper respiratory cells was present in this case.

There are worries that the virus is evolving to infect humans more successfully since this could make it simpler for it to transfer from person to person by coughing or sneezing.

H5N1 rarely infects humans or spreads between them, which may be explained by the fact that bird flu viruses normally do not attach to a cell receptor in the human upper airways.

The victim is thought to have gotten bird flu from birds in his backyard.

Close contact with an infected bird can spread avian flu.

This includes killing or preparing contaminated birds for cooking, touching droppings or bedding, or caressing or touching an infected bird.

Even in places where there is a bird flu outbreak, consuming completely cooked poultry or eggs does not spread the disease.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) states that there is still little risk to humans, it advises nations to exchange information promptly in order to monitor and be ready for the virus’s spread.

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There are currently no confirmed H5N1 influenza cases in the United Kingdom.

In the event that the virus does begin to spread among people, the UK government recently declared that it has acquired five million doses of the H5 vaccination.

What to know about the bird flu

In 2024, dozens of people contracted the bird flu, or H5N1 form of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus.

There have been 65 confirmed human cases of avian flu as of December 26, 2024.

The following states are where people have been exposed to the virus:

• California
• Colorado
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Oregon
• Texas
• Washington Wisconsin

Twenty-three persons were exposed to the virus through culling operations and poultry farms, while 39 people were infected through cattle.

Two additional cases were unidentified, and one guy contracted the infection from his backyard flock.

Source: CDC

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