A Louisiana patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1, in Louisiana and the U.S. has died, the state's health department reported Monday. This marks the first human death related to bird flu in the U.S.

The Louisiana Department of Health says the first ever severe human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza patient has died. According to LDH, the individual had exposure to the virus from sick and dead birds within backyard flocks.