The first U.S. death from bird flu has put a spotlight on H5N1, a virus that’s becoming more concerning for public health experts. The patient in Louisiana, who was over 65 with existing health conditions, got sick after contact with backyard birds. This case tells us something important: the virus is changing in ways that could affect our communities. Since 2003, about 900 people worldwide have caught bird flu, with roughly half of those cases ending in death. But don’t panic – these numbers likely miss many mild cases that weren’t reported. Even so, the virus demands our attention. For … Continue reading First U.S. Bird Flu Death: Louisiana Case Raises Alarm Over H5N1 Mutations