The United States has reported the first severe human case of H5N1 bird flu in a Louisiana resident aged over 65. The patient, who has underlying medical conditions, developed severe respiratory symptoms and is currently hospitalized. Health officials suspect the infection may have originated from contact with sick or dead birds in a backyard flock. This marks the country's first human bird flu case linked to non-commercial poultry.
The CDC has confirmed 61 human cases of bird flu nationwide since April. Genetic analysis revealed that the strain infecting the Louisiana resident belongs to the D1.1 genotype, which has been detected in wild birds and poultry. In contrast, the strain responsible for earlier human cases, identified as the B3.13 genotype, has been associated with dairy cows and some poultry outbreaks. Bird flu has significantly impacted agriculture since March, with over 860…
