The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention supplied an replace on a human case of fowl flu in Louisiana on Wednesday. The one that contracted the virus in Southwest Louisiana final week is taken into account to have the primary extreme case in the USA, in response to the CDC. The Related Press reported that the individual had been involved with sick and lifeless birds in yard flocks, however didn’t element their signs. The case was first reported by the Louisiana Division of Well being final week. Earlier diseases within the U.S. had been gentle and the overwhelming majority had been amongst farmworkers uncovered to sick poultry or dairy cows.This yr, greater than 60 fowl flu infections have been reported, greater than half of them in California. In two — an grownup in Missouri and a toddler in California — well being officers haven’t decided how they caught it. H5N1 is a sort of influenza virus that causes extremely infectious and extreme respiratory illness in birds. Well being officers say there was no human-to-human virus transmission in the USA up to now. Whereas the present public well being danger for most people is low, individuals who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have leisure publicity to them, are at greater danger. One of the simplest ways to guard your self and your loved ones from H5N1 is to keep away from sources of publicity, in response to LDH. LDH suggests avoiding direct contact with wild birds and different contaminated animals. LDH supplied the next security suggestions for residents: Don’t contact sick or lifeless animals or their droppings, and don’t deliver sick wild animals into your property. Maintain your pets away from sick or lifeless animals and their feces. Don’t eat raw or undercooked meals. Cook dinner poultry, eggs and different animal merchandise to the right temperature and forestall cross-contamination between uncooked and cooked meals. Keep away from raw meals merchandise reminiscent of unpasteurized uncooked milk or cheeses from animals which have a suspected or confirmed an infection. Should you work on poultry or dairy farms, speak to your supplier about getting your seasonal flu vaccination. It is not going to stop an infection with avian influenza viruses, however it might probably cut back the danger of coinfection with avian and flu viruses. Report lifeless or sick birds or animals to the USDA toll-free at 1-866-536-7593 or the Louisiana Division of Agriculture and Forestry Diagnostic Lab at 318-927-3441.If a industrial poultry flock is affected, instantly quarantine the premises and fowl(s) and restrict publicity to birds till regulatory officers can reply or direct the veterinarian relating to an applicable plan of action.What to do if you’re uncovered: In case you have been uncovered to sick or lifeless birds or different animals or work on a farm the place avian influenza has been detected, look ahead to respiratory signs or conjunctivitis. Should you get signs inside 10 days after publicity to sick or lifeless animals, inform your well being care supplier that you’ve been involved with sick animals and are involved about avian influenza. This can assist them provide you with applicable recommendation on testing and therapy. Keep residence and away from others whilst you have signs.