Federal health officials say that not only has a Louisiana resident contracted the first severe case of bird flu in the U.S., but that the virus likely mutated in the patient. The findings raise concern regarding the adaptability of the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday announced that it had sequenced the bird flu, or avian influenza, viruses collected from a Louisiana patient who "was severely ill from an A(H5N1) virus infection." The person has not been identified, but according to reports, they are older than 65 and have underlying medical conditions.
The New York Times reported the individual, who was hospitalized with respiratory symptoms, is from southwestern Louisiana. They came in contact with sick and dead birds; the CDC found that the viruses collected were closely related to those found in wild birds and poultry in Louisiana late in 2024. The CDC confirmed the case on Dec. 13.
