The USA has recorded its first human death from bird flu.
The person is said to have had underlying medical problems and had been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock.
The deceased is an elderly resident of Louisiana who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms.
State health officials announced the death on Monday, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed it was the nation’s first death due to bird flu.
They said a genetic analysis had suggested the bird flu virus had mutated inside the patient, which could have led to the more severe illness.
According to reporting from the Associated Press, 66 confirmed bird flu infections have been reported in the US since March.
It says previous illnesses have been mild and most have been detected among farm workers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows.
