The death in Louisiana — involving a person with underlying health conditions — is the first human case in the United States ...

The patient, who was over 65, contracted bird flu after contact with both a backyard bird flock and wild birds.

The first person to have a severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States has died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. This is the first human death from bird flu in the U.S.

Since March, 66 confirmed bird flu infections have been reported in the U.S., but previous illnesses have been mild.