A Louisiana patient has become the first reported fatality from bird flu in the United States.

The fatality highlights the persistent threat of the H5N1 virus amid global efforts to control its spread.

The patient, described as being over 65 years old with pre-existing health conditions, contracted the virus after exposure to a backyard flock and wild birds.  

According to the New York Times, the individual had been hospitalised since last month.

“There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission anywhere in the U.S.,” state officials said.

Pasteurised dairy products, they added, remain safe to consume.  

The H5N1 virus, aka bird flu, primarily spreads among birds but can infect humans through close contact with infected animals, particularly poultry. 

Diego Diel, a virologist at Cornell University, urged people to avoid contact with sick animals, poultry, and wild birds.  

“The more the virus circulates among humans and mammals, the higher the chance it could mutate to spread more efficiently among people,” stated James Lawler, a director at the University of Nebraska’s Global Center for Health Security. 

The U.S. is currently facing a challenging flu season, which complicates the situation. 

Experts worry that co-infection with bird flu and seasonal flu could provide H5N1 with an opportunity to evolve further.