Health officials say Louisiana patient is first severe bird flu case in US

NEW YORK (AP) — A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., health officials said Wednesday.

The patient is in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms, according to Louisiana health officials. The person, who is over 65 and has underlying medical problems, had been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Previous illnesses in the U.S. have been mild and the vast majority have been among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows.

This year, more than 60 bird flu infections have been reported, with over half of them in California. In two — an adult in Missouri and a child in California — health officials have not determined how they caught it.

The CDC confirmed the Louisiana infection on Friday, but did not announce it until Wednesday. It’s also the first U.S. human case linked to exposure to a backyard flock, the agency said.

The Missouri patient also was hospitalized, but for reasons beyond just the bird flu infection. The Louisiana case is different because the person's hospitalization is due to the flu symptoms, CDC officials said.

Last month, Canadian officials reported that a teen in British Columbia was hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu. CDC officials did not answer a question about whether the new U.S. case had any similarities or differences, directing reporters to ask Louisiana officials.

Health officials say bird flu is still mainly an animal health issue, and the risk to the general public remains low. There’s been no documented spread of the virus from person to person.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

FILE -This colorized electron microscope image released by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on March 26, 2024, shows avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles (yellow), grown in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells (blue). (CDC/NIAID via AP, File)

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — The parliament building in Liberia caught fire Wednesday and the country's president condemned the “wanton destruction,” even as no link was immediately confirmed to anti-government protests in the capital.

The protests in the West African nation began with anger Tuesday over the decision to remove the parliament speaker, an opposition party who faces accusations of corruption. The demonstrators also call for President Joseph Boakai to step down.

Authorities did not immediately confirm the cause of the fire in the capital, Monrovia. Police chief Gragray Coleman did not rule out arson.

Local media reported that least four people were taken for questioning, including the parliament speaker and Rep. Frank Foko, who in a recent interview noted the parliament chambers and threatened to “burn it down."

On Tuesday, police arrested dozens of protesters and used tear gas to disperse crowds.

The protests came after months of tension over whether House of Representatives speaker Konati Koffa would be removed from office.

Liberia’s law provides that the speaker can be removed by a two-thirds majority of the house. Without it, parliament has been deadlocked and Liberia's government has not been able to pass the annual budget.

The burnt parliament building in Monrovia, Liberia, Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Anthony Williams)

Smoke rises from the parliament building following a protest by opposition in Monrovia, Liberia, Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Anthony Williams)