First ‘Severe’ Human Case of Bird Flu Found in U.S., CDC Confirms

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Peter Garrard Beck / Getty Images

Peter Garrard Beck / Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the country’s first “severe” case of bird flu in humans.TheLouisiana Department of Healthreported the state’s first human case of the bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI) in a resident who had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.On Dec. 18, the CDC called the Louisiana case the first severe case in the U.S. after the patient was hospitalized. The agency said it is still investigating the source of the infection.“A sporadic case of severe H5N1 bird flu illness in a person is not unexpected; avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection has previously been associated with severe human illness in other countries during 2024 and prior years, including illness resulting in death,” the CDC said in apress release. “This case does not change CDC’s overall assessment of the immediate risk to the public’s health from H5N1 bird flu, which remains low.“The CDC notes that this “severe” case in Louisiana serves as an example that in addition to affected commercial poultry and dairy operations, wild birds and backyard flocks also can be a source of exposure.GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheWorld Health Organizationpreviously called the current outbreak a “significant public health concern.” In April, the agencyconfirmedthe first person to die from this strain of bird flu in Mexico.Additionally, a teenager in British Columbia, Canada, was in critical condition after contracting the first case of bird flu in the country, health officials announced in November.British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at the time that the patient developed “acute respiratory distress,” which sent them to critical care.Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a “life-threatening” condition that happens when fluid begins to leak into the lung, preventing enough oxygen from getting into the body, according to theAmerican Lung Association.However, the World Health Organizationdoes not currently listthe bird flu outbreak as a global health emergency.This is nowhere nearCovid-levels of concern, Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, Critical Care and Pulmonology at the Cleveland Clinic, previously told PEOPLE. “There’s no human-to-human transmission that really occurs. A very small, very tiny percentage of people are even at risk of getting infected.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the country’s first “severe” case of bird flu in humans.

TheLouisiana Department of Healthreported the state’s first human case of the bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI) in a resident who had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.

On Dec. 18, the CDC called the Louisiana case the first severe case in the U.S. after the patient was hospitalized. The agency said it is still investigating the source of the infection.

“A sporadic case of severe H5N1 bird flu illness in a person is not unexpected; avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection has previously been associated with severe human illness in other countries during 2024 and prior years, including illness resulting in death,” the CDC said in apress release. “This case does not change CDC’s overall assessment of the immediate risk to the public’s health from H5N1 bird flu, which remains low.”

The CDC notes that this “severe” case in Louisiana serves as an example that in addition to affected commercial poultry and dairy operations, wild birds and backyard flocks also can be a source of exposure.

Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

TheWorld Health Organizationpreviously called the current outbreak a “significant public health concern.” In April, the agencyconfirmedthe first person to die from this strain of bird flu in Mexico.

Additionally, a teenager in British Columbia, Canada, was in critical condition after contracting the first case of bird flu in the country, health officials announced in November.

British Columbia health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at the time that the patient developed “acute respiratory distress,” which sent them to critical care.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a “life-threatening” condition that happens when fluid begins to leak into the lung, preventing enough oxygen from getting into the body, according to theAmerican Lung Association.

However, the World Health Organizationdoes not currently listthe bird flu outbreak as a global health emergency.

This is nowhere nearCovid-levels of concern, Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, Critical Care and Pulmonology at the Cleveland Clinic, previously told PEOPLE. “There’s no human-to-human transmission that really occurs. A very small, very tiny percentage of people are even at risk of getting infected.”

source: people.com