Washington State Reports First Human Infection with Rare H5N5 Bird Flu Strain

Washington state has reported the first-ever human infection with the H5N5 strain of bird flu, officials confirmed Monday. This case, detected in an older adult with underlying medical conditions, marks not only the first U.S. human infection with this particular strain but also the first time H5N5 avian influenza has been identified in a human anywhere. According to HealthDay News and the Washington State Department of Health, the patient remains hospitalized after developing a high fever, confusion, and trouble breathing earlier this month. The individual had direct contact with a backyard flock, some of which died just weeks before, and wild birds had access to the property. Experts told The Washington Post that, although H5N5 behaves similarly to the H5N1 strain that has caused sporadic outbreaks in animals and people worldwide, the public health risk remains low.

State officials and the CDC emphasize there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission. Over 100 healthcare workers who cared for the patient have been monitored, with no additional cases detected. Dr. Tao Kwan-Gett, Washington’s state health officer, said, “We have identified no additional individuals other than the patient who is infected with H5N5.”

The CDC’s latest situation update highlights that H5 bird flu remains widespread in wild birds and is causing outbreaks in U.S. poultry and dairy cows. Since early 2024, 71 people nationwide have tested positive for various strains, mostly after direct exposure to infected animals. Only one death has been recorded, in Louisiana. Officials caution that risk typically rises as colder weather prompts migratory birds—which can carry the virus—to mingle with domestic flocks, increasing the odds of transmission.

Recent investigative reporting by ProPublica underscores ongoing debate about whether bird flu can be transmitted between farms via airborne particles. While the USDA continues to focus on wild birds and biosecurity, some experts believe that not enough has been done to study the possibility of windborne spread, and some European countries are already using poultry vaccines in response.

Globally, concern remains due to the virus’s ability to infect a wide variety of animals, with increasing vigilance over both animal and human health in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s update on the evolving bird flu situation. Be sure to come back next week for the latest news. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease.AI.

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