The first human bird flu death was reported out of Louisiana on Monday, Jan. 6. The same case was the first serious case of H5N1 in humans in the U.S.
The Louisiana Department of Health said in a news release that the patient was older than 65 and had underlying health issues. The person had contact with a non-commercial backyard flock and wild bird.
“While tragic, a death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated in a news release.
The news comes on the heels of two new avian flu outbreaks in Mississippi poultry facilities. In December 2024, a commercial boiler breeder in Greene County had a breakout in a flock of 26,000 and a commercial boiler production facility in Copiah County had bird flu in a flock of 210,000.
Here’s what you need to know about bird flu symptoms, what kinds of birds and animals can carry it and how to keep yourself and your family healthy.
How do people catch bird flu? What is my risk?
According to information from the CDC, infected birds spread bird flu through fluids, like spit, snot and feces. Other animals can get the virus and spread it via breathing, in other organs and in bodily fluids like blood and milk.
No person-to-person spread of the H5 has been confirmed, and the CDC stated that sporadic infections have happened in the past. Some illnesses can lead to death, but the organization underscored that the immediate public risk from bird flu is still low.
According to the CDC, more than 950 cases of H5N1 have been reported to the World Health Organization. About half of those patients died.
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What are bird flu symptoms?
According to the CDC, symptoms include a fever, cough, sore throat, trouble breathing, conjunctivitis (pink eye), aches, and diarrhea.
They advise anyone to call the state or county health department as soon as possible if they get symptoms within 10 days of exposure. Isolate until test results come back or you’ve recovered. Close contacts of someone exposed also should monitor their health for 10 days.
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What to know about the first severe human case of bird flu
As of Jan. 6, the CDC said there have been 66 reported cases of bird flu in humans since 2024.
According to a December news release from the CDC, data showed the virus from the Louisiana patient is part of the D1.1 genotype. It’s the same kind of virus found in wild birds and poultry. Other human cases have been confirmed in Canada and Washington state.
This type of the virus is different than the B3.13 type found in some dairy cow and poultry outbreaks and other human cases in several states.
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Can I get bird flu from eating chicken, eggs or raw milk?
Pasteurized milk products are safe, the FDA said, but raw milk products have been recalled because they contained the virus.
Both chicken and eggs are safe to eat and do not have the potential to spread bird flu if cooked properly and handled safely, according to MBAH. Cook both to 165˚F is recommended.
How can I avoid getting sick?
Avoid contact with dead or sick animals, the CDC advises, especially wild birds or poultry. The Mississippi Board of Animal Health has an online site to report dead birds.
People can get infected when the virus gets in their eyes, nose or mouth, so be careful in areas where potentially infected animals have been.
Wear gloves, a mask or eye protection, even if birds don’t look sick.
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What animals can catch, spread H5N1?
Animals that eat sick birds, including pet dogs and cats, can get avian flu.
Other animals confirmed to have contracted it include wilds animals like bears, foxes and skunks. Farmed mink can catch it, as can polar bears, dolphins and seals.
Bird flu is also spreading through U.S. dairies. Infected cows can share it when moved to other farms, and sharing milking machines can also help spread the virus.
The CDC is working on more genome sequencing of samples from the Louisiana patient. This is the first case documented based on exposure to a backyard flock with sick and dead animals.
Where has bird flu been confirmed in Mississippi poultry?
According to MBAH samples from the newest infected flock were “rested at the Mississippi Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.”
Bird flu has been found in “U.S. wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry and backyard or hobbyist flocks beginning in January 2022,” per the CDC.
According to the USDA, “Wild birds can be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and show no signs of illness. They can carry the disease to new areas when migrating, potentially exposing domestic poultry to the virus.”
“If you have poultry, your birds can get bird flu if they have contact with infected wild birds or share food, water sources, and other environments with them,” per DHHS.
The Mississippi State University Extension Office said HPAI usually kills 95% to all of an infected flock, but low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) might only cause minor illness.
At least 130,674,361 birds have been affected since 2016 across the U.S., and initial testing show these are ” HPAI A(H5N1) viruses from clade 2.3.4.4,” according to the CDC. Every state has been affected, and there have been almost 1,400 reported outbreaks.
In Mississippi, the tracker shows bird flu was confirmed in the following counties:
Two Mississippi outbreaks were in 2022, three were in 2023, and two were in 2024. Three were at single households and affected 50 or fewer birds.
In February 2023, 89,800 poultry animals were in an outbreak in a Leake County commercial broiler production facility. In November 2022, 34,400 birds were in a outbreak at a Lawrence County commercial broiler breeder.
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What if I have dead or sick chickens?
“Avian influenza in birds can cause sudden death; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea,” MBAH said in a news release.
MBAH put the poultry industry on alert Monday in light of the newly confirmed infection. People who keep poultry as a hobby are also encouraged to practice good biosecurity and be alert for signs of bird flu. They should report sickness and deaths via an online reporting form.
If you think something is wrong with a flock, the extension office encourages immediate action. Commercial producers should reach out their tech. Backyard producers can contact their county agent, a veterinarian.
MBAH said people should double-bag any dead birds and refrigerate them in case they need to be tested. Be sure to use gloves or masks when handling sick or dead animals and be sure to wash your hands and sanitize any surfaces that touched the bird to avoid spreading the virus.
The extension office also said people can call the MSU Poultry Science Department at 662-325-3416 or the Mississippi Board of Animal Health at 601-359-1170 or via the animal disaster hotline at 888-722-3106.
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Where has H5N1 been confirmed in wild birds in Mississippi?
According to the CDC, more than 10,922 wild birds have been confirmed to have H5N1. Almost 1,200 counties across the U.S. are affected.
“Most common songbirds or other birds found in the yard, like cardinals, robins, sparrows, blue jays, crows or pigeons, do not get infected with the bird flu viruses that can be dangerous to poultry or possibly spread to people,” according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Several bird species have been confirmed to have bird flu in Mississippi, including:
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Greater white-fronted goose.
The animals were in the following counties:
The five strains confirmed in Mississippi include: EA H5, EA H5 mixed, EA H5N1, EA H5N1 mixed and EA/AM H5N1.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Know bird flu risk in Mississippi, symptoms after first US human death
