First U.S. bird flu death announced

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week announced the first fatal case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S.. As of Jan. 6, the CDC has confirmed 66 human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. The CDC says the risk to the general public remains low due since most H5 bird flu infections are caused by animal-to-human exposures and not human-to-human transmissions. The agency provides resources for people who are at greater risk of infection, such as those with job-related or recreational exposures to infected birds or other animals. Separately, the Health and Human Services Department awarded $306 million for a bird flu monitoring and preparedness program. (CDC news release, 1/7/25)