Louisiana: First presumptive positive human H5N1 avian influenza case detected
Louisiana state health officials report detecting the first presumptive positive human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in the state.
The individual is a resident of southwestern Louisiana and is currently hospitalized.
The Louisiana Department of Health’s (LDH) Office of Public Health is coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the epidemiologic investigation. The investigation identified that the individual had exposure to sick and dead birds that are suspected to have been infected with H5N1.
LDH says while the current public health risk for the general public is low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk.
The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.
Protecting yourself and others from H5N1 infection
Do not touch sick or dead animals or their droppings and do not bring sick wild animals into your home.
Keep your pets away from sick or dead animals and their feces.
Do not eat uncooked or undercooked food. Cook poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.
Avoid uncooked food products such as unpasteurized raw milk or cheeses from animals that have a suspected or confirmed infection.
If you work on poultry or dairy farms, talk to your provider about getting your seasonal flu vaccination. It will not prevent infection with avian influenza viruses, but it can reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.
Report dead or sick birds or animals to the USDA toll-free at 1-866-536-7593 or the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Diagnostic Lab at 318-927-3441.
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H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that causes highly infectious and severe respiratory disease in birds. In the United States, outbreaks of the currently circulating H5N1 avian influenza viruses in wild birds and poultry have been ongoing since 2022. As of December 13, 2024, 60 confirmed human cases of H5N1 have been reported across the U.S., with the majority linked to exposure to infected poultry or dairy cows. There has been no human-to-human virus transmission in the U.S. to date.