BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana Department of Health has reported the archetypal quality lawsuit of vertebrate flu (H5N1) successful a idiosyncratic successful the state. A idiosyncratic from southwestern Louisiana is hospitalized aft vulnerability to sick and dormant birds suspected of having the virus.

According to authorities wellness officials, H5N1 is simply a microorganism that causes terrible respiratory unwellness successful birds. Outbreaks successful chaotic birds and poultry person been reported since 2022 successful the U.S.

"While the existent nationalist wellness hazard for the wide nationalist is low, radical who enactment with birds, poultry oregon cows, oregon person recreational vulnerability to them, are astatine higher risk," the bureau said.

According to LDH, 60 quality cases person been reported nationwide arsenic of Dec. 13, each linked to interaction with infected animals. No human-to-human transmission has occurred successful the U.S.

"The champion mode to support yourself and your household from H5N1 is to debar sources of exposure. That means avoiding nonstop interaction with chaotic birds and different animals infected with oregon suspected to beryllium infected with vertebrate flu viruses," LDH said.

How to support yourself

• Avoid interaction with sick oregon dormant birds oregon animals.
• Keep pets distant from dormant animals.
• Always navigator poultry, eggs, and carnal products thoroughly.
• Avoid earthy oregon unpasteurized dairy products from infected animals.
• Farm workers should see seasonal flu vaccines to little risks of co-infection.

What to bash if exposed

• Watch for symptoms similar respiratory issues oregon oculus irritation wrong 10 days of exposure.
• Inform your doc if you fishy vertebrate flu vulnerability to guarantee due care.
• Stay location if you make symptoms.

Health officials said dormant oregon sick birds oregon animals tin beryllium reported to the USDA toll-free astatine 1-866-536-7593 oregon the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Diagnostic Lab astatine 318-927-3441.