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Health authorities in the United States have confirmed the first known human infection and death from the H5N5 strain of avian influenza.
The Washington State Department of Health announced on Friday that an older adult with underlying medical conditions died after being hospitalized in King County earlier this month.
The individual, who kept a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds, is believed to have been exposed through contact with infected poultry.
Laboratory testing at the University of Washington’s Clinical Virology Laboratory identified the virus as H5N5, a subtype not previously recorded in humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later confirmed the results.
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Authorities emphasized that the overall risk to the public remains low. No additional cases have been detected among individuals connected to the patient, and there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Officials continue to monitor close contacts for symptoms as a precaution.
Health officials in Washington urged people who handle domestic birds or encounter wild birds to follow safety measures, including avoiding contact with sick or dead birds, reporting unusual bird deaths, and practicing strict hygiene.
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