A Washington resident died from H5N5 bird flu on Friday, November 21, according to the U.S. Department of Health.
Death Due to Bird Flu
The U.S. Department of Health announced that an elderly resident of Washington state died of H5N5 bird flu. The patient, who had existing medical conditions, owned a backyard flock of poultry. The virus was found in the environment around the birds, but the risk to the general public remains low. Health officials will continue to monitor close contacts of the patient for symptoms, and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
A Rare Human Infection
Bird flu, normally an avian disease, can occasionally infect humans. The H5N5 strain can jump from birds to people through direct contact with infected or dead birds, their excreta, or contaminated surroundings.
Understanding Bird Flu
Bird flu affects birds and other animals. The World Organization for Animal Health warned that the virus is a global concern as it now attacks domestic and wild mammals. Human infections display flu‑like symptoms—fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain—and severe cases may lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, or death. The overall risk of infection is low, and the virus rarely passes between humans.