The risk to the general population from H5N1 bird flu remains low, a World Health Organization spokesperson said on Tuesday, following the first death of a patient from the virus in the United States.

A person from Louisiana was reported dead after getting infected with bird flu on Monday. According to the reports, the 65-year-old man was hospitalized with symptoms of bird flu or H5N1 and ultimately passed away from the infection.

The first bird-flu related death has been reported in the US, according to the Louisiana department of health, where the death occurred. The patient had been taken to hospital after contracting a major strain of bird flu, known as H5N1. Louisiana health department said they were over the age of 65, and had other underlying health conditions.