A Washington resident has been hospitalized with a strain of bird flu that has not been seen in humans before, according to the Washington State Health Department.
Since 2024, there have been 70 reported human cases of bird flu in the United States, all occurring from the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the bird flu. The case at hand in the Washington state resident resulted from infection of the H5N5 strain of the bird flu, making it the first human case reported in the United States. The H5N5 strain is not believed to be a greater threat to human health than the more common H5N1 strain.
The Washington resident was an older adult with chronic medical conditions who was exposed to wild birds from a backyard flock, according to CBS news. The patient developed high fever, confusion and respiratory distress, according to Scripps News.Of the now 71 cases that have occurred since 2024, only 1 individual has died, and the overall risk to the public is considered low, according to the CDC.
