A resident of Washington state has died after contracting a rare strain of bird flu, marking the second human fatality linked to the virus in the United States this year, according to state health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported over 70 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. this year alone. Earlier in January, another individual died from H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana. Since 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) has documented more than 1,000 human bird flu cases across 25 countries, encompassing all virus strains.
The deceased was identified only as “an older adult with underlying health conditions” who had been hospitalized since early October. Tests from the University of Washington confirmed the presence of H5N5 avian influenza, a variant that health officials declared as the first recorded infection of its kind in a person worldwide. This finding has also been verified by the CDC.
While the situation is concerning, the CDC has assured the public that the risk remains low. No additional individuals in close contact with the patient have tested positive for avian influenza, and there is currently no evidence suggesting that the virus can be transmitted between people. The patient had a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds, which health officials suspect as the source of exposure.
In response to this incident, officials emphasize the importance of monitoring poultry and limiting exposure to wild birds, while maintaining practices that protect public health.
Original Source: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/bird-flu-death-in-u-s-washington-resident-dies-after-contracting-a-rare-strain-of-h5n5-avian-influenza-virus-only-reported-in-animals-previously/articleshow/125511422.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-11-23 01:14:00
