First Human Fatality from Rare Bird Flu Strain
A man from Washington state in the United States is believed to be the first person in the world to die from a rare strain of bird flu known as H5N5. According to officials from the Washington State Department of Health, the patient was an older adult who had underlying health conditions.
Details of the Case and Source of Infection
The man, who resided in Grays Harbor county approximately 78 miles south-west of Seattle, had been hospitalised with the disease since early November. He initially developed symptoms including a high fever, confusion, and respiratory problems.
Health officials confirmed that the man kept a backyard flock of domestic poultry. It is believed this flock had been exposed to wild birds, which is considered the likely source of the infection.
Public Health Risk Assessment and Monitoring
In an official statement, Washington state health officials moved to reassure the public, stating, "The risk to the public remains low." They confirmed that no other individuals have tested positive for this strain of avian influenza following contact tracing.
While health officials are monitoring anyone who had close contact with the man, they emphasised that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of this virus. This assessment was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which stated earlier this month that this single case does not suggest an increased risk to public health.
The H5N5 strain is not considered a greater threat to human health than the more common H5N1 virus, which has been responsible for numerous mild infections among workers on dairy and poultry farms in the US during 2024 and 2025.
