Washington State Resident Dies From Novel H5N5 Bird Flu Strain
A resident of Grays Harbor County, Washington, has died from complications related to a newly identified strain of avian influenza, H5N5, marking the first confirmed human death globally from this specific variant, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The case was confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This death represents a significant, though currently isolated, development in the ongoing global monitoring of avian influenza. while the CDC and state health officials emphasize the risk to the public remains low, and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, the emergence of a novel strain capable of causing severe illness and death in a human underscores the potential for continued evolution of these viruses and the need for vigilance.
The individual had a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds, which is believed to be the source of the infection.Health officials report no other individuals involved have tested positive for the virus.
To date in 2024,the CDC has recorded over 70 human cases of bird flu in the United States. A seperate case of H5N1 avian influenza resulted in a death in Louisiana in January. Globally, the World Health Institution (WHO) has documented more than 1,000 human cases of bird flu – encompassing all strains – across 25 countries since 2003.
