First person in the world has died from the H5N5 bird flu

Tengrinews.kz – The world’s first human death from the H5N5 bird flu strain has been recorded in the United States, according to Euronews.

The Washington State Department of Health reported on Friday that the deceased was elderly and had serious underlying health issues. The H5N5 bird flu strain he contracted had never previously been detected in humans.

Authorities found a small backyard flock of mixed domestic birds at the patient’s home. Family members' identities have not been disclosed for privacy reasons.

“Health officials emphasized that the risk to the general population is low. They stated that none of the individuals who had contact with the patient tested positive, and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission,” the publication noted.

Although bird flu has circulated among bird populations for decades, in recent years it has begun infecting mammals more frequently. In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the bird flu strain infecting millions of birds had also been detected in several mammals.

“According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 70 human infections have been confirmed in the United States so far, not including the latest case in Washington. Most patients were infected after contact with infected cattle, working at poultry farms, or during animal culling,” the resource reports.

According to ABC News, most cases have been mild — presenting as eye irritation and fever — while some patients experienced more severe symptoms. In January, the country recorded its first death from bird flu: an elderly patient with serious underlying conditions.