The following information is from CDC. 

CDC is saddened by Louisiana’s report that a person previously hospitalized with severe avian influenza A(H5N1) illness (“H5N1 bird flu”) has passed away. While tragic, a death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death. As of January 6, 2025, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022. This is the first person in the United States who has died as a result of an H5 infection. Outside the United States, more than 950 cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organization; about half of those have resulted in death.

CDC has carefully studied the available information about the person who died in Louisiana and continues to assess that the risk to the general public remains low. Most importantly, no person-to-person transmission spread has been identified. As with the case in Louisiana, most H5 bird flu infections are related to animal-to-human exposures. Additionally, there are no concerning virologic changes actively spreading in wild birds, poultry, or cows that would raise the risk to human health. (CDC reported previously on itsanalysis of the viruses isolated from the patient in Louisiana.) However, people with job-related or recreational exposures to infected birds or other animals are at greater risk of infection. For these and others, CDC has developed prevention resources about how to protect yourself.

CDC is continually:

• Supporting critical epidemiologic investigations with state and local partners to assess the public health impact of each H5 case.
• Working closely with state and local partners to conduct active surveillance for H5 cases.
• Monitoring for changes that might suggest H5 viruses are becoming better adapted to mammals and therefore might spread more easily from animals-to-humans or human-to-human or cause more severe disease.
• Monitoring for any viral changes that could make these viruses less responsive to flu antiviral medications or the available candidate vaccine viruses.

Additional information about H5 bird flu is available on the CDC website and below.

H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation

What to Know

• H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
• While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.
• CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people.

H5 Bird Flu Detections in USA

• Dairy cattle: Ongoing multi-state outbreak
• Wild Birds: Widespread
• Poultry Flocks: Sporadic outbreaks
• Mammals: Sporadic infections
• Person-to-person spread: None
• Current public health risk: Low

66 Confirmed Total Reported Human Cases in the United States

Confirmed human case summary during the 2024 outbreak, by state and exposure source

NOTE: One additional case was previously detected in a poultry worker in Colorado in 2022.

^†Exposure was related to other animals such as backyard flocks, wild birds, or other mammals
^‡Exposure source was not able to be identified

Probable human case summary during the 2024 outbreak, by state and exposure source

When a case tests positive for H5 at a public health laboratory but testing at CDC is not able to confirm H5 infection, per Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) guidance, a case is reported as probable.

• Probable cases with commercial poultry exposure (e.g., poultry farms or culling operations):
  • Washington (3)
  • Arizona (2)
• Probable cases with commercial dairy (cattle) exposure:
  • California (1)
• Probable cases with exposure source unknown:
  • Delaware (1)

Confirmed and probable cases are typically updated by 5 PM EST on Mondays (for cases confirmed by CDC on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), Wednesdays (for cases confirmed by CDC on Monday or Tuesday), and Fridays (for cases confirmed by CDC on Wednesday and Thursday). Affected states may report cases more frequently.

H5 Monitoring in People

CDC influenza (flu) surveillance systems show no indicators of unusual influenza activity in people, including avian influenza A(H5).

Monitoring Current Situation →

National flu surveillance (since February 25, 2024)

• Specimens tested: 77,000+ specimens tested that would have detected influenza A(H5) or other novel influenza viruses
• Human cases: 3 cases detected through national flu surveillance

Targeted H5 surveillance (since March 24, 2024)

• Total people monitored: 12,400+ after exposure to infected animals
• Total people tested: 560+ after exposure to infected animals
• Human cases: 63 cases detected through targeted H5 surveillance

Total people monitored and total people tested will be updated weekly on Fridays. Human cases are typically updated by 5 PM EST on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. CDC numbers on specimens tested for national flu surveillance is the number of seasonal flu tests conducted by public health labs. CDC numbers on H5 testing and monitoring are based on weekly state aggregate reports since 2022. CDC defers to states for updated information on people being monitored and tested. March 24, 2024, was the date of the first reported dairy cow infections in the United States. April 1, 2024, was the date of the first reported human case in the United States since the outbreaks in dairy cows began. Infected animals include poultry, dairy cows, and other birds and mammals.

Detections in Animals

• 10,922 wild birds detected as of 1/3/2025 | Full Report
• 51 jurisdictions with bird flu in wild birds
• 130,674,361 poultry affected as of 1/6/2024 | Full Report
• 50 states with outbreaks in poultry
• 917 dairy herds affected as of 1/6/2024 | Full Report
• 16 states with outbreaks in dairy cows

These data will be updated daily, Monday through Friday, after 4 p.m. to reflect any new data.

Cumulative data on wild birds have been collected since January 20, 2022. Cumulative data on poultry have been collected since February 8, 2022. Cumulative data on humans in the U.S. have been collected since April 28, 2022. Cumulative data on dairy cattle have been collected since March 25, 2024.

What CDC is doing

Genetic Sequences of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Identified in a Person in Louisiana CDC has sequenced the influenza viruses in specimens collected from the patient in Louisiana.
Dec 26, 2024

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations This page outlines CDC’s recommendations for preventing exposure to avian influenza viruses.
Dec 26, 2024

CDC Confirms First Severe Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the United States December 18, 2024– A patient has been hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1)
Dec 18, 2024

Technical Update: Summary Analysis of the Genetic Sequence of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Identified in a Child in California CDC provides an update on genetic sequencing of the first pediatric case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or “H5N1 bird flu,” in the United States.
Dec 10, 2024

CDC confirms H5N1 Bird Flu Infection in a Child in California The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) (H5N1 bird flu) in a child in California.
Nov 22, 2024

CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update November 18, 2024 CDC provides an update on its response activities related to the multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or “H5N1 bird flu,” in dairy cows and other animals in the United States.
Nov 18, 2024

Protective Actions for People

• Protective actions around wild birds Avoid direct contact with wild birds and observe them only from a distance, if possible. Learn more.
• What to do if you find a dead bird Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died and call to report sick or dead birds. Learn more.
• Protective actions around other animals with H5N1 bird flu Avoid unprotected exposure to infected live or dead animals or surfaces contaminated by them. Learn more.
• Protective actions if you work with potentially infected dairy cattle Avoid unprotected direct physical contact or close exposure with cattle and materials potentially infected or confirmed to be infected with HPAI A(H5) virus. Learn more.
• Consuming Milk People should not eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk. Choosing pasteurized milk is the best way to keep you and your family safe. Learn more.
• Preparing food It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. There are recommendations around products from other animals with H5 virus infections, including cattle and milk. Learn more.
• Traveling to other countries CDC does not currently recommend any travel restrictions related to bird flu to countries affected by bird flu in birds, other animals or people. Learn more.
• If you have contact with infected birds or other animals and become sick Learn what to do if you have contact with infected birds or other animals and become sick. Learn more.
• Clinicians can visit CDC’s avian influenza (bird flu) information for health professionals for the latest guidance. Learn more.
• Public health professionals and laboratorians can visit CDC’s avian influenza (bird flu) information for public health partners for the latest guidance. Learn more.
• Get a seasonal flu vaccine Seasonal flu vaccination will not prevent infection with bird flu viruses, but can reduce the risk of getting sick with human influenza viruses and thus the risk for seasonal and bird flu co-infection. Learn more.