Axios

A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized for a severe case of H5N1 bird flu, the state's health department said Monday.

The big picture: This marks the first bird flu-related human death in the U.S. Louisiana's health department has not identified any additional cases of the illness or evidence of human transmission, the department said in a news release.

Whether you're drinking moderately or going completely dry this month, non-alcoholic drinks are flooding your feeds.

The big picture: On TikTok, #dryjanuary posts were up 50% toward the end of last year compared to the same period in 2023, according to data shared with Axios.

The debate over the health effects of alcohol consumption is picking up with mixed messages on the risks of imbibing.

Why it matters: While there's growing evidence supporting abstinence, U.S. guidelines still suggest moderate drinking is safe.

Charging patients to message their doctors through portals could reduce health worker burnout and modestly lightened clinicians' workloads at the Mayo Clinic, researchers said.

Why it matters: More health systems have been charging to answer patient queries since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allowed providers to bill for virtual check-ins that involve decision-making and at least five minutes of clinicians' time.

Mounting public anger over health insurance is leading more state legislatures to eye tighter oversight of the industry, starting with its use of AI to screen claims and issue denials.

Why it matters: While congressional scrutiny of the industry picked up following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last month, states remain the primary regulators of health insurance and are best positioned to address access to and adequacy of care.