GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY, Wash. — An older adult in Washington state has died after contracting a rare strain of bird flu, marking what is believed to be the first human fatality from the H5N5 virus. State health officials, however, emphasized Friday that the risk to the general public remains low.
The individual, who had underlying health conditions and lived in Grays Harbor County, was being treated for the infection after becoming the first known human case of this specific strain. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the person had a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds.
In a statement, health officials moved to reassure the public, stating, “The risk to the public remains low.” They confirmed that no other people have tested positive and that there is “no evidence of transmission of this virus between people.” Close contacts are being monitored as a precaution.
The announcement aligns with a recent statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which said this single case does not suggest an increased risk to public health.
By James Kisoo
