A patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza A (H5N1), marking the first such illness in the U.S. Confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Dec. 13, the patient was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.
Genetic analysis revealed the virus belongs to the D1.1 genotype, linked to recent cases in wild birds, poultry and humans in North America. This differs from the B3.13 genotype found in dairy cows and some poultry outbreaks.
According to MedPage Today, the patient, a person over 65 with underlying health conditions, remains in critical condition.
