Deadly H5N5 Avian Flu Strikes in Washington State, First Known Human Fatality

A Washington state resident has died from avian influenza, marking the world’s first known human fatality from the H5N5 bird flu strain. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the individual—an older adult with existing health conditions—kept a mixed backyard flock that had been exposed to wild birds. This tragic case was confirmed over the weekend and is the first diagnosed avian flu infection in the U.S. since February. Notably, previous human avian flu cases in the United States have been tied to the H5N1 strain and had milder outcomes. Washington health officials stress that the risk to the public remains low, and none of the patient’s close contacts have tested positive. Human-to-human spread has not been detected so far, but officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely, advising the public to get their seasonal flu vaccines as a precaution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 71 cases and one death from H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. since the beginning of 2024, but this marks the first global case and death from H5N5, underscoring the evolving nature of avian influenza.

Meanwhile, outbreaks among poultry continue to challenge the agricultural sector. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports eleven new detections at commercial duck and broiler operations in Indiana, still considered the epicenter for poultry avian flu outbreaks. Outbreaks have also recently struck commercial turkey farms in South Dakota and breeder facilities in North Carolina, affecting tens of thousands of birds.

Across North America, wild birds remain the primary drivers of H5N1’s continued spread, according to ThePoultrySite. Since late 2021, experts have characterized the situation as a “panzootic”—a pandemic among animals—that impacts wild birds, poultry, and even some mammals.

Globally, the World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control report ongoing activity. Cambodia, for instance, has reported 18 human cases of H5N1 in 2025 with 15 deaths, and in total, since 2003, there have been 993 confirmed global H5N1 human cases and 476 deaths. Surveillance efforts remain high in Europe with recent detections in Austria, Belgium, Germany, and several other countries as of this week, November 24, 2025.

The current assessment from both U.S. and global health authorities is that while most humans remain at very low risk, vigilance is essential as the virus continues to adapt and occasionally infects humans, particularly those in close contact with birds.

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