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Washington State Records First Human Death from Rare H5N5 Bird Flu Strain
OLYMPIA, WA – Washington state health officials have confirmed the death of an older adult in Grays Harbor County from a rare strain of bird flu, H5N5, marking what is believed to be the first human fatality globally linked to this particular variant. The man, who had underlying health conditions, passed away on Friday after being diagnosed earlier this week.
The Washington State Department of Health reported that the individual had a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds, which health officials suspect as the likely source of exposure. The county, located approximately 78 miles southwest of Seattle, is now at the center of an ongoing investigation into the transmission of this novel strain.
Despite this tragic development, state health officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low. “No other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza,” a statement from the department affirmed.
They also noted that there is currently “no evidence of transmission of this virus between people.” Close contacts of the deceased are being monitored as a precautionary measure.
This case represents the first instance of human bird flu infection in Washington state since February and the first known H5N5 infection in a human. While distinct from the more common H5N1 virus, which has accounted for 70 reported human infections over the past year, experts like Richard Webby, a flu researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, suggest that from a human health perspective, H5N5 should be considered similarly to H5N1.
Webby likened the distinction between H5N5 and H5N1 to “different brands of car tires,” explaining that both perform the same function, but each may be better suited for specific conditions. The key difference lies in a protein that influences the virus’s release from infected cells and its spread. H5N5 may also exhibit a different preference for the types of birds it most readily infects.
Most H5N1 cases reported in recent years have been mild illnesses in individuals working on dairy and poultry farms. The Grays Harbor County resident, who has not been identified, is believed to have contracted the virus from his domestic poultry or wild birds, although the exact pathway of transmission is still under investigation.