ORLANDO, Fla. — The first person has died of bird flu in the United States, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed on Monday, according to ABC News.
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The patient, who was exposed to non-commercial backyard flocks and wild birds, was over age 65 and had underlying medical conditions, officials said.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the patient was experiencing the first case of severe bird flu in the U.S.
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At the time, a spokesperson from the Louisiana Department of Health told ABC News the patient was experiencing severe respiratory illness related to bird flu infection and was in critical condition.
The U.S. has been facing an outbreak of bird flu, or avian influenza, since April, when the first human case was reported.
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