H5N1 bird flu update: Symptoms, map, human cases, and what to know about the CDC’s response

Public health officials have just reported the first known “severe” case of bird flu in the United States. There are now 61 confirmed cases across eight states.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that a person had been hospitalized with a “severe case” of bird flu. The hospitalization marks the first time that severe illness has resulted in a person in the United States after contracting the virus. Here’s what you need to know about the bird flu, how far it has spread, and how to protect yourself.