Bird flu, also known as H5N1, has been around for decades. But the discovery in 2024 that the virus spread from wild birds to cows came as a surprise to public health experts, according to officials.

While the current public health risk is low ... The patient in Louisiana was infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which is a virus that can infect both birds and mammals.

The H5N1 bird flu virus is sweeping across all 50 states, hitting U.S. dairy farms and infecting people. The CDC says the public health risk is low, but they are overseeing the situation.

Bird flu, also known as H5N1, has been around for decades. But the discovery in 2024 that the virus spread from wild birds to ...