US Reports First Human H5N5 Bird Flu Case, Officials Say
US Reports First Human H5N5 Bird Flu Case, Officials Say
A Washington state resident tests positive for H5N5 bird flu, marking the first U.S. human case since February. Health authorities say the public health risk remains low.
A Washington state resident has tested positive for H5N5 bird flu, marking the first known human infection with this strain in the United States since February. The patient is an older adult with underlying health conditions and is currently hospitalized. The case is linked to a backyard flock in Grays Harbor County that had exposure to wild birds. Health officials emphasize that this is the first known human infection with H5N5 and that the risk to the general public has not increased as a result of this case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is awaiting additional specimens to conduct further testing. Officials say there is no information to suggest a greater threat to public health from H5N5 than from the H5N1 strain that caused multiple human infections in recent years. Experts note that while the two viruses behave similarly, H5N5 differs in a protein involved in releasing the virus from an infected cell, a difference that could influence transmission and host range. Think of it as different brands of car tires that are tuned for specific conditions, which we do not fully understand yet. H5N5 may have a different preference for which birds it infects, but current evidence indicates similar implications for humans compared with H5N1. The patient had close contact with a backyard flock, underscoring the ongoing need for precautions in poultry settings and continued monitoring by health authorities.
Cover image source: U.S. resident infected with H5N5 — a different type of bird flu 🔗
