First human loss of life in US from hen flu reported in Louisiana
A Louisiana affected person who had been hospitalized with hen flu has died of the illness, the Louisiana Division of Public Well being reported Monday.
The affected person, the primary within the U.S. to die from hen flu, also called H5N1, was over 65 and reported to have underlying medical situations.
The particular person turned sick after contact with a mix of a yard flock and wild birds, the well being division mentioned in a information launch. The division declined to launch any extra details about the affected person to guard their privateness.
Nobody else seems to have been contaminated with hen flu, both from birds or from the sick affected person, in Louisiana, the division mentioned.
Whereas the present public well being danger for most people stays low, individuals who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have leisure publicity to them, are at greater danger. To keep away from publicity, keep away from direct contact with wild birds and different doubtlessly contaminated animals.
Chook flu has been touring around the globe since 1997. It was largely confined to wild birds till latest years.
It has contaminated greater than 60 individuals within the U.S. this yr, although most have had delicate illness, usually the pink eyes of conjunctivitis. The Louisiana affected person was the primary to endure extreme illness, seemingly due to their age and different well being situations.
The affected person was additionally contaminated with a flu pressure from wild birds, not the one circulating in dairy cows and most poultry farms, officers mentioned final month. It isn’t clear if that pressure is extra harmful or if the route of transmission made the an infection extra severe. A lot of the others had been farm employees, who had been seemingly contaminated after they touched their eyes after touching contaminated animals.
Around the globe, hen flu has killed about half of the individuals recognized to have been contaminated.
For those who consider you’ll have been uncovered to hen flu both from wild birds or contaminated livestock, be looking out for respiratory signs or the pink eyes charactistic of conjunctivitis, the Louisiana Division of Public Well being advises. For those who develop these signs inside 10 days, name your healthcare supplier to say that you’ve got been involved with sick animals and are nervous you may need hen flu. This can assist them present recommendation on testing and remedy. Keep residence and away from others when you have signs.
The Louisiana Division of Public Well being recommends the next:
- Don’t contact sick or useless animals or their droppings and don’t convey sick wild animals into your own home.
- Hold your pets away from sick or useless animals and their feces.
- Don’t eat raw or undercooked meals. Cook dinner poultry, eggs and different animal merchandise to the right temperature and forestall cross-contamination between uncooked and cooked meals.
- Keep away from raw meals merchandise resembling unpasteurized uncooked milk or cheeses from animals which have a suspected or confirmed an infection.
- For those who work on poultry or dairy farms, speak to your supplier about getting your seasonal flu vaccination. It is not going to forestall an infection with avian influenza viruses, however it may well cut back the chance of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.
- Report useless or sick birds or animals to the USDA toll-free at 1-866-536-7593.
(This story was up to date so as to add new info.)
