The death comes at a time when the H5N1 virus has recently undergone an unusual mutation that is causing concern to the World Health Organization.

The LDH revealed that the patient was over age 65, had underlying medical conditions and contracted bird flu after exposure to both wild birds and a non-commercial backyard flock.

The first patient hospitalized with avian influenza in the United States has died in Louisiana, the state's department of health announced Monday.