First US Bird Flu Fatality Recorded as Biden Ramps up Precautionary Spending

Louisiana has reported the first confirmed death of a US citizen from bird flu, also known as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1.

The death comes after President Joe Biden recently directed hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to preparing for an HPAI outbreak. 

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) broke the news, explaining how an individual older than 65 and with underlying conditions died from H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. 

LDH added it had not identified any additional individuals infected and that H5N1 currently poses no grave threat to humans. 

H5N1 has previously reportedly triggered global epidemics amongst birds and affected humans with a 52% mortality rate. 

While transmission to humans is rare, the death in Louisiana and increased transmission to humans from infected cows is raising concerns about a potential H5N1 outbreak amongst humans. 

Currently, there are 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

President Biden recently committed to funneling over $300 million to combatting H5N1. 

Funds will be used to improve hospital preparedness, early stage research on therapeutics, diagnostics, vaccines, helping maintain state and local efforts to track and test people exposed to infected animals, and for outreach to livestock workers and others at high risk.

“While the risk to humans remains low, we are always preparing for any possible scenario that could arise,” said US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra

LDH advises individuals to protect themselves and their family from H5N1 by avoiding sources of exposure, such as direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.