CDC Confirms First Severe Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the U.S. as California Sees Rapid Spread of Virus

A patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with severe illness due to the H5N1 avian influenza virus, marking the first such case in the U.S. since the outbreak began in April 2024. The patient, who had exposure to sick and dead backyard birds, highlights the risk posed by wild birds and backyard flocks in addition to commercial poultry. The overall public health risk remains low and no person-to-person transmission has been detected. Read more from the CDC here.

Meanwhile, California is intensifying efforts to control the spread of H5N1 avian influenza after detecting the virus on a Southern California dairy farm. Animal health authorities are now testing milk from all 984 of the state’s dairies weekly to track potential infections, as the virus has spread rapidly, affecting 659 herds. This surge in cases has led to two more human infections, raising California’s total to 36. Read more from STAT News here.