Louisiana reports first bird flu-related death in US, state agency says

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The Louisiana Department of Health said on Monday that the first U.S. patient hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu had died, noting that the patient was over 65 and had underlying medical conditions.

"While the current public health risk for the general public remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk," the department said in a statement.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward, Katharine Jackson)

((Katharine.Jackson@thomsonreuters.com; 202-898-8300;))