US’s first H5N1 avian flu fatality

The state of Louisiana has reported the first fatal case of H5N1 avian influenza in the United States. The male patient, aged 65, who was admitted to the hospital in December suffering from a serious condition, acquired the virus through contact with both domestic and wild birds. The patient had pre-existing health conditions that may have affected the severity of his illness. At the time, the U.S. investigation has found no additional cases of H5N1 infection in humans, nor any evidence of human-to-human transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified avian influenza (H5N1) as a potential pandemic threat, despite the rarity of human infections, which have been fatal in more than 50% of the 950 cases reported worldwide to date. Presently, more than 65 people in the United States have contracted avian influenza, primarily through contact with infected livestock, especially poultry. While the capacity for human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus is currently limited, its potential for infecting multiple species increases the risk of wider spread. Experts emphasise the necessity of monitoring and rapid response to potential threats and advocate prevention and public education as essential measures to contain the spread of the H5N1 virus, a phenomenon that is exacerbated by the global mobility of people and goods.