The deceased was over 65 and had other medical conditions, state officials said. A Louisiana patient who had been hospitalized with severe bird flu has died, the first such fatality in the United States, state health officials reported on Monday.

The first U.S. bird flu death has been reported. Louisiana health officials announced the death Monday of a person who had been hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms.

A person in Louisiana who became severely ill with a bird flu virus known as H5N1 in December has passed away from the infection, marking the first known bird flu death in the US

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.

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

By Katie Katro Click here for updates on this story LEHIGH VALLEY, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Bird flu is suspected as the cause of death for 200 snow geese in the Lehigh Valley. The birds were found at two different locations: Lower Nazareth Township,

About 200 snow geese were found dead last week in the Allentown area — likely because of the bird flu. The dead birds were found in both Nazareth Township in Northampton County and Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County,

Over 200 snow geese found across Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania are suspected to have been killed by the bird flu, and experts are concerned the death toll could climb even higher as cases continue to skyrocket.