Samples taken from the first patient who died from bird flu show that a strain of the virus has “mutated” to infect humans more effectively. A patient - hospitalised last month in Louisiana - died after the H5N1 strain of avian influenza infected the individual.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture is warning of bird flu in pets after a cat recently tested positive for the illness.

The first person in the U.S. just died from a strain of the virus in Louisiana, but there’s still some simple ways to stay safe.

If you have a backyard birth feeder and bird bath, it’s a good idea to take them down. That’s according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The agency also recommends not feeding ducks and other waterfowl that flock at area parks.