SOURCES: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health update, Jan. 6, 2025; CBS News; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health update, Dec. 18, 2024; Lou

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The first person has died of bird flu in the United States, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed on Monday. The patient, who was exposed to non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, was over age 65 and had underlying medical conditions, officials said.

The patient, who was older than 65 and had underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized Dec. 18 in critical condition with severe respiratory illness.

The first U.S. bird flu death has been reported — a person in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms. Louisiana health officials announced the death on Monday. Health officials have said the person was older than 65,