A Washington state resident is now believed to be the first human to die from infection with the rare bird-flu strain H5N5 avian influenza, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The individual was an older adult from Grays Harbor County with underlying health conditions who had been hospitalised since early November after developing fever, confusion and respiratory issues.
Health officials say the patient’s backyard flock of domestic poultry had been exposed to wild birds, which is believed to be the source of infection. While the case is serious, authorities emphasise that the risk to the general public remains low, as no confirmed human-to-human transmission has occurred and no other individuals tested positive for the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had previously stated that the case does not indicate an increased public-health threat. The H5N5 strain differs from the more widely monitored H5N1 avian influenza strain— which has caused around 70 human infections in the U.S. during 2024-25—due to a variation in a viral protein involved in cell-release and spread.
Officials will monitor individuals who had close contact with the infected person but reiterated that there is currently “no evidence of transmission of this virus between people.”
