7 January 2025
First death in USA from avian influenza
In the state of Louisiana (USA), one person has died from the consequences of avian influenza (bird flu). The patient had the H5N1 variant of the virus. In 2024, 66 people in the USA contracted the avian influenza virus after contact with infected birds or mammals. Most of the infected people had mild symptoms. This was the first human death from avian flu in the United States of America. In addition to avian flu, the patient also had several other underlying health problems. People have previously died of the H5N1 virus in other countries.
The spread of avian influenza
Avian flu (avian influenza, also known as bird flu) is a contagious disease primarily found in birds, particularly waterfowl and poultry. The virus is spread by migratory birds and is therefore found all over the world. There are many different variants of the avian influenza virus. H5N1 is one of the variants that causes outbreaks worldwide among wild waterfowl and poultry. Sometimes the virus also infects mammals. There has been an outbreak of H5N1 among cows in the United States of America since 2024.
No H5N1 among people in the Netherlands
Avian influenza is a zoonosis: a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The risk that humans will be infected is low, but it is a possibility for people who have extended close contact with infected animals, such as poultry or dairy cows in the USA. Although there have been recent outbreaks of H5N1 among poultry in the Netherlands, the virus has never been detected in humans in the Netherlands.
Monitoring avian flu
RIVM is closely monitoring the national and international situation regarding the spread of avian flu. People who live or work on poultry farms where an avian flu outbreak took place will be monitored.
RIVM is partnering with organisations focused on animal health and human health, such as Erasmus MC, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Authority (NVWA), Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).