More should be done to control the spread of bird flu among animals to avoid more cases in humans, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Wednesday, following the first death of a patient from the virus in the United States.

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,

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.