BREAKING: First US bird flu death recorded in Louisiana

The first bird flu-related death has been reported by the Louisiana Department of Health. The patient contracted H5N1.

The patient, who was over the age of 65, reportedly had underlying medical conditions and contracted bird flu after being exposed to a combination of wild birds and a non-commercial backyard flock.

The Louisiana Department of Health has not identified any additional cases or evidence of person-to-person transmission. 

"The Department expresses its deepest condolences to the patient’s family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one. Due to patient confidentiality and respect for the family, this will be the final update about the patient," the Louisiana Department of Health said in a press release.

The department said that the current health risk to the general public remains low, but those who work with birds, poultry, or cows, or are exposed to them on a recreational basis, are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.

The patient had been the first severe case of avian influenza A virus, also known as H5N1, in the country. The CDC confirmed on December 18 that the patient had been hospitalized, marking the first instance of severe illness linked to the virus in the US. The patient still remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana.