In Louisiana, the USA, the first fatal case caused by the H5N1 bird flu virus has been confirmed. About it reports CNN with reference to the State Health Department.
- The deceased patient, who was 65 years old, had comorbidities.
- Infection occurred after contact with a poultry flock and wild birds.
- The patient was hospitalized with severe flu, but it was not possible to save it.
The medical authorities of Luisiana noted that no other cases of the disease associated with this infection have been detected.
The infected patient had a strain of the H5N1 virus (subtype D1.1), which mainly circulates among wild birds and poultry. According to experts, this subtype of the virus is not associated with those that affect dairy cattle or other animals.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since 2003, about 900 cases of infection with H5N1 bird flu virus have been registered in the world. Half of these cases were lethal.
However, experts emphasize that real mortality may be lower, as mild cases of infection are often undiagnosed.
Experts do not see a significant threat to public health, but emphasize the importance of compliance with safety measures in contact with birds, especially in regions that have confirmed cases of virus circulation.
