The older adult had underlying health conditions and was being treated for the bird flu strain H5N5 after becoming the first known human infected by it, according to a statement issued by the Washington State Department of Health.
An individual in the United States is thought to be the first human fatality from a rare variant of bird flu. The elderly patient, who had pre-existing health conditions, was undergoing treatment for the H5N5 strain of bird flu, having been identified as the first known human case, as per a statement from the Washington State Department of Health.
US health authorities have reassured that the risk to the general public remains minimal. They disclosed that the deceased individual hailed from Grays Harbor County, near Seattle, and maintained a flock of domestic poultry that had come into contact with wild birds.
The gender of the deceased has not been specified by the health officials. In their statement, the health officials reiterated: “The risk to the public remains low. No other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza.”
They also confirmed plans to keep a close watch on anyone who had significant contact with the patient, but stressed there was “no evidence of transmission of this virus between people”, reports the Express.
Earlier this month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement about the infection, asserting that there was no indication that the risk to public health had escalated due to this case.
The H5N5 strain is not considered more dangerous to human health than the H5N1 virus, which was responsible for around 70 reported human infections in the US in 2024 and 2025. The majority of these cases were mild illnesses affecting workers on dairy and poultry farms.
The distinction between H5N5 and H5N1 lies in a protein that plays a role in the virus’s release from infected cells, facilitating its transmission to neighbouring cells.
Since October 1, the Government has documented 50 confirmed H5N1 bird flu cases – 39 in England, one in Scotland, seven in Wales and three in Northern Ireland.
This figure contrasts with 81 confirmed bird flu instances last year and six recorded between 2023-24, based on official data.
H5N1 was identified at a poultry facility in Claydon, Suffolk this week, prompting authorities to establish a surveillance zone around the site.
Whilst bird flu primarily impacts avian species, it can transmit to humans through close contact. The NHS states it can prove fatal, though remains “very rare” in the UK.
Bird flu symptoms in humans can range from mild to severe. These encompass a high temperature, cough, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, wheezing, sneezing, irritated eyes and a shortness of breath.
The NHS confirms that anti-viral medications are available for treating bird flu.
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