A person in Louisiana has died from bird flu, marking the first such death in the U.S. The person, over 65 years old, had serious health issues and was in contact with sick birds at home. Experts found that the virus had changed inside this person, possibly making the illness worse.
Since March, there have been 66 known bird flu infections in the U.S., but most were mild and affected people working closely with sick chickens or cows. Experts say a death from bird flu wasn’t shocking. Throughout the world, over 950 people have been infected with bird flu since 2003, and more than 460 have died, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Jennifer Nuzzo, a health expert, said the bird flu is dangerous and this situation is a sad reminder of that risk. She noted that a teenager in Canada recently got very sick from the virus. Researchers are studying why some people get very sick while others do not.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) called the Louisiana death tragic but said there’s currently no new threat from the virus spreading among people or animals. Recently, two other cases in Missouri and California were puzzling for health officials, but they don’t think this virus is spreading from person to person.
Bird flu, especially the H5N1 type, is spreading among wild birds and other animals, increasing the chance humans might catch it. Officials advise people who work with sick birds to be careful, recommending protective gear like masks, goggles, and gloves.
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