US Reports First Death Linked to Rare H5N5 Bird Flu Strain

Health officials in the US have confirmed the first human death linked to the rare H5N5 bird flu strain. Experts, however, say the overall risk to the public remains low. The rare H5N5 bird flu continues to draw attention because this case marks an isolated development.
The patient was an older adult from Washington state. They lived in Grays Harbor county and managed a small backyard flock. Wild birds had recently interacted with the poultry, and officials believe this exposure likely triggered the infection. In addition, the person faced underlying health issues, which made their condition more fragile.
The patient developed a high fever, confusion, and breathing problems in early November. Doctors admitted them to the hospital for urgent care. However, their health continued to decline. As a result, the individual later died from the infection.

Health Response

State health officials stressed that no evidence suggests the virus is spreading between people. Therefore, they consider the situation contained. They also monitored everyone who had close contact with the patient, and no further infections emerged.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also weighed in. Earlier this month, the agency stated that current information does not indicate an increased threat to the public. This reassurance followed reviews of recent cases across the country. For example, outbreaks among farm workers mostly involved mild symptoms.

Virus Background

H5N5 differs from the more widely known H5N1 strain because of a protein that shapes how the virus spreads between cells. However, experts say this difference does not make it more dangerous for humans. Most human cases of bird-related flu in recent years involved mild illness linked to direct exposure to farm animals. Researchers say continued monitoring will help track changes and guide future health responses effectively. This supports informed decisions in evolving situations.