WHO Reports Low Bird Flu Risk Following First H5N1 Death in the U.S.
“We assess the risk to the general public and … it continues to be low,” commented a spokesperson.
On January 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the first reported H5N1 avian influenza death in the United States, confirmed by Louisiana officials the day before.
“We are certainly concerned, but we evaluate the risk to the general population, and … it still remains low,” WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris told reporters during a Geneva press conference concerning the virus’s risks.
When asked if U.S. virus monitoring was adequate, she replied: “They are conducting extensive surveillance. That’s why we are hearing about it.”
Since April, more than 60 people in the United States have been infected with bird flu, primarily farm workers and employees of dairy farms, officials noted. This infection occurs while the virus is circulating among dairy cattle herds and poultry flocks, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Similar to the WHO, both federal and state officials have reiterated that the risk to the general public from H5N1 remains low.
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Louisiana authorities indicated that the deceased individual contracted H5N1 after interacting with wild birds and a “non-commercial backyard flock,” stating there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus within the state. This case is the only confirmed human H5N1 instance in Louisiana, according to the department.
The H5N1 virus, categorized as Type A, was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March 2024. Since that time, it’s been confirmed in at least 80 herds across 16 states.
In November 2024, officials from Canada reported that a teenager in British Columbia was hospitalized due to a severe bird flu case.
Health authorities emphasize that bird flu primarily remains an animal health concern, and the risk to the public stays low. No person-to-person transmission of the virus has been documented in the United States or elsewhere.
On December 18, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency concerning H5N1, a precautionary measure taken due to cases detected in dairy cattle. This declaration followed the confirmation of hospitalization for the Louisiana individual who developed bird flu.
“The discovery of a severe human case with genetic variations in a clinical sample highlights the necessity of ongoing genomic surveillance in both humans and animals, effective containment of avian influenza outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry, and preventive actions for individuals exposed to infected animals or environments,” the agency noted.
Federal and state health authorities advise the public to steer clear of sick or deceased animals, avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear unwell or have died, and to refrain from consuming raw milk or products derived from raw milk.
Reuters contributed to this report.
