When a pathogen — any organism that causes a disease — jumps species, scientists get nervous because its genetic makeup can reconfigure and become more transmissible or lethal.

A patient in Louisiana has died from avian influenza in what authorities consider to be the first severe H5N1 infection in a US resident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 67 cases of bird flu in humans have been recorded in the country since 2024.

Seven Delmarva-region commercial operations have now reported cases of the highly contagious virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging health care workers to accelerate bird flu testing for patients hospitalized with flu symptoms.

In 2023, the 10 leading causes of death remained the same as in 2022. The top leading cause in 2023 was heart disease, followed by cancer and unintentional injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hospitals treating people for the flu should test them for avian influenza within 24 hours.

Avian influenza A (H5N1) has mutated, so the symptoms of bird flu could change as more people get sick in 2025.

Flu has surged to high levels across the US, straining hospitals. Experts discuss 2024-25 flu season trends, symptoms to watch for, and how to stay safe.

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging health care workers to accelerate bird flu testing for patients hospitalized with flu symptoms, as the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak continues to grow in the United States and Canada.

The CDC is monitoring developments closely because the United States is in the middle of flu season. With more patients flooding hospitals seeking care for seasonal flu, testing for avian influenza could slow down, and that could delay public health measures needed to prevent disease spread.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released an advisory recommending clinicians expedite subtyping of type A influenza samples from hospitalized patients, particularly individuals in an intensive care unit.

How deadly is the bird flu? The US has reported its first death from avian influenza, H5N1. Here's what to know about bird flu mortality rate and who is at risk.