Two months shy of the fifth anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic, the US has recorded its first human death as a result of avian influenza H5N1 infection. The unidentified Louisiana man contracted the virus through contact with infected wild and domestic birds on his property

For influenza viruses, imperfection is a strength. They constantly mutate, producing new strains that challenge immune systems primed to fight earlier varieties. That’s what makes flu a life-long threat to humans and the animal species — mainly birds — that are vulnerable to it.

Spartanburg has a confirmed case of the bird flu. The CDC reports the virus was detected on Dec. 31, 2024, in a flock of about 490 birds.

The CDC has confirmed a new human H5N1 bird flu case in California, raising the US total to 67. Most cases involve farm workers exposed to sick animals. The CDC urges rapid testing, antiviral treatments,