Bird flu jumps from birds to human in Louisiana; patient hospitalized
Ars Technica » Scientific Method 2024-12-13
A person in Louisiana is hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu after having contact with sick and dying birds suspected of carrying the virus, state health officials announced Friday.
It is the first human H5N1 case detected in Louisiana. For now, the case is considered a "presumptive" positive until testing is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials say that the risk to the public is low but caution people to stay away from any sick or dead birds.
Although the person has been hospitalized, their condition was not immediately reported. It's also unclear what kind of birds the person had contact with—wild, backyard, or commercial birds. Ars has reached out to Louisiana's health department and will update this piece with any additional information.