A Washington state resident has tested positive for bird flu, marking the first US human case in nine months. Health officials say the patient is an older adult with underlying health conditions, who was hospitalized in early November with high fever, confusion, and respiratory distress.
Testing confirmed the H5N5 strain, a form of bird flu previously seen only in animals. State and federal health authorities are investigating how the patient became infected, though officials say the most likely source is the patient’s backyard flock, which had exposure to wild birds.
The Washington State Department of Health and the CDC stress that the risk to the public remains low, noting that there is still no evidence of human-to-human transmission in the US. Public health teams are notifying close contacts as a precaution.
Click through to learn more about the evolving H5N1 outbreak, bird flu transmission risks, and why experts continue to monitor emerging strains closely.