The first human death from H5N1—or the bird flu—in the United States was reported in the state of Louisiana, the local health department informed on Monday.

"The Louisiana Department of Health reports the patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana and the U.S. has died," the department said in a statement.

It was also mentioned that the “patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions.”

"The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses," advises the Louisiana Department of Health.

Bird flu was first detected in wild birds in the US state of South Carolina in January 2022; in July of the same year, the virus was reported in California. And in March 2024, it was reported that cows had been infected in the states of Texas and Kansas. After that, 66 cases of human infection were confirmed in ten US states.