January 6, 2025 – The CDC is saddened by the report from Louisiana that an individual previously hospitalized with severe avian influenza A(H5N1) (“H5N1 Avian Influenza”) has died. A death from H5N1 avian influenza in the United States, while tragic, is not unexpected as infection with these viruses is known to cause serious illness and death. As of January 6, 2025, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022. This is the first human in the United States to die as a result of H5 infection. Outside the United States, more than 950 cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been reported to the World Health Organization; about half of these resulted in death.

CDC has carefully reviewed the available information regarding the individual who died in Louisiana and continues to believe that the risk to the general public remains low. Most importantly, no person-to-person transmission has been detected. As in the case of Louisiana, most H5 avian influenza infections are linked to animal-to-human exposure. In addition, there are no worrisome virological changes that are actively spreading in wild birds, poultry or cows that would increase the risk to human health. (CDC previously reported its analysis of viruses isolated from the patient in Louisiana.) However, people who are occupationally or recreationally exposed to infected birds or other animals are at higher risk of infection. For these and others, CDC has developed prevention resources to protect yourself.

CDC is continuous:

• Support critical epidemiological investigations with state and local partners to assess the public health impact of each H5 case.
• Work closely with state and local partners to actively monitor H5 cases.
• Monitor for changes that may indicate that H5 viruses are better adapted to mammals and therefore may spread more easily from animal to person or person to person or cause more severe disease.
• Monitor for viral changes that could make these viruses less responsive to antiviral flu drugs or the available vaccine virus candidates.

For more information about H5 bird flu, visit the CDC website.