Last November, a little girl in contact with contaminated cows contracted avian flu, or influenza A (H5N1) in the United States. A case which had already raised concerns and reactions regarding a possible risk of spread of the disease and human-to-human transmission.
Louisiana health authorities announced this Monday, January 6 (Source 1), the first human death linked to the H5N1 virus in the United States.
This is a 65 year old man. who suffered from several underlying health conditions, and who had contracted the virus after exposure to both wild and farmyard birds. Analyzes revealed that this Louisiana patient was infected with the D1.1 variant of the avian flu virus, a strain that circulates in wild birds and poultry, but which is different from the variant that circulates in birds. dairy cows in the United States.
“Although tragic, one death from the H5N1 avian flu virus in the United States is not not unexpected due to the known potential for infection by these viruses can cause serious illness and death”, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement (Source 2). And the CDC indicates that as of January 6, 2025, “there was 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian flu in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022” and that outside the United States, “more than 950 cases of H5N1 avian flu have been reported to the World Health Organization; about half of them resulted in death”.
The CDC believes that based on available health information, the risk of spread to the general public remains low, especially since no cases of human-to-human transmission have been identified. Because it’s good the major concern about bird flu: that the virus mutates and manages to become transmissible from human to human. The CDC, which indicates that it has carried out the sequencing of the virus which infected the deceased man, estimates that it “n’y a no worrying virological changes actively spreading among wild birds, poultry or cows that would increase the risk to human health”.
-The challenge is to ensure that these few cases of transmission to humans remain circumscribed and under controlstrong circulation of the virus can lead to mutations, making it more transmissible and/or transmissible between humans. Significant circulation of this virus could also lead to a double infection of avian flu and seasonal flu, which could also make the H5N1 virus more dangerous for humans.
Expert voices are being heard in particular in order to systematize the vaccination of farmers and other breeders working in contact with animals at risk of infection (cattle, sheep, poultry), especially since the Trump administration is about to take back the reins of the country. Because the Secretary of Health chosen by Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is known for its anti-vaccine positions and in favor of the consumption of raw milkwhich may contain the avian flu virus.
However, the CDC urges continued vigilance, at least for people exposed to infected birds or other animals during their work or leisure activities, as they are at higher risk of infection. “People should avoid direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected or suspected of being infected with the avian influenza A virus.”estimate the American authorities. People who must come into contact with sick animals, such as breeders and veterinarians, are invited to wear appropriate protective equipment. Hunters are also among the populations urged to be vigilant, because they are in contact with potentially infected birds.
