In Louisiana, a person passed away from a bird flu called H5N1. It’s the first death in the US linked to this virus. The risk to others is low as no one else in Louisiana has caught it. The person got sick in December after being near infected birds. They had breathing problems. The Louisiana Department of Health shared the news on 6 January. The person was over 65 and had health issues.
More than 60 people in the US got H5N1, but they had mild symptoms like red eyes. They worked with sick animals. H5N1 has killed many birds worldwide and has been in US cows for a year. Tests show the person in Louisiana had a similar virus to wild birds, different from what cows have. The virus can’t pass from person to person.
The virus may have changed in the person’s body, making it better at spreading. The same change was seen in a sick person in Canada. This shows how viruses can evolve.
Vocabulary List:
- Influenza /ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə/ (noun): A viral infection that affects the respiratory system.
- Symptoms /ˈsɪmp.təmz/ (noun): Physical or mental features that indicate a condition or disease.
- Department /dɪˈpɑːrt.mənt/ (noun): A distinct part of a larger organization often focused on a specific area of responsibility.
- Infected /ɪnˈfɛk.tɪd/ (adjective): Having a disease or infection caused by pathogens.
- Evolve /ɪˈvɑːlv/ (verb): To develop gradually especially from a simple to a more complex form.
- Risk /rɪsk/ (noun): The possibility of suffering harm or loss; danger.
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