First U.S. Bird Flu Virus Death Recorded in Louisiana

The first bird flu virus death in the United States was recorded in Louisiana on Monday after the patient was exposed to a backyard flock.

The Louisiana patient was reportedly older than 65 at the time of death and had pre-existing medical conditions. The H5N1 virus was also reportedly transmitted due to contact with birds and was not transferred from person-to-person. Dr. Diego Diel, a virologist at Cornell University, said that the risk of bird flu transmissions remains low while warning people to remain cautious around sick animals and avoid wild birds.

Experts have also advised people to avoid raw milk, though no human cases have been linked to drinking it as of yet.

“I still think the risk remains low,” Diel told the New

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