The U.S. reported its first human death from H5N1 bird flu, marking a significant milestone in the outbreak. The patient was over 65 with underlying health conditions and was hospitalized in Louisiana in December.

America's first human death from bird flu occurred in Louisiana, where an elderly resident succumbed to the H5N1 virus after exposure to infected backyard birds. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed on January 6 that the patient,

The Louisiana Department of Health announced Jan. 6 that a patient hospitalized last month for H5N1 bird flu has died, becoming the first U.S. death from the virus. The agency said the individual contracted the virus after exposure to a combination of a backyard flock and wild birds.