A person in Washington state is believed to be the first known human to die from the rare H5N5 strain of bird flu, though health officials say the risk to the public remains low.
The patient, an older adult with underlying health conditions from Grays Harbor County, had been hospitalized since early November with fever, confusion and respiratory symptoms. They are thought to have been exposed through a backyard flock of poultry that had contact with wild birds.
State health officials confirmed that no other close contacts have tested positive and there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also stated that this case does not indicate an increased risk to public health.
H5N5 is not considered more dangerous to humans than the better-known H5N1 strain, which caused dozens of mostly mild cases among farm workers in the US during 2024 and 2025.
Health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and people who had close contact with the patient.
