For the first time in the U.S., a death from avian influenza has been reported.

According to the report, the 65-year-old patient also had underlying health conditions. He was hospitalized last month. It is claimed that he contracted bird flu, apparently from domestic and wild birds. However, no other cases of infection have been recorded in the state, nor are there any instances of human-to-human transmission. The risk level for the general population remains low, although it is higher for those who work with birds or domestic animals.

Since the beginning of 2024, there have been 66 reported cases of human infection with bird flu in the United States, and according to the WHO, around 900 people have been infected globally since 2023, with approximately half of them having died. Experts emphasize that this does not imply a 50% mortality rate from the virus; it seems that only severe cases were recorded, while mild cases were not included in the statistics. Nevertheless, specialists are concerned that as the virus mutates, it may show a tendency to spread from person to person, rather than solely from birds and livestock, as is currently the case. There are no medications for bird flu, similar to several other viral diseases, which puts individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses at greater risk.

The bird flu virus primarily affects migratory birds, but also domestic birds, particularly chickens. During major outbreaks of bird flu, all birds that could potentially carry the virus are culled to prevent its spread.