First Human Death From H5N5 Bird Flu Reported in Washington State: What You Need to Know

Health officials confirm that the H5N5 bird flu strain poses no greater public health risk than the more common H5N1 virus.

Grays Harbor County, Washington has recorded what appears to be the world's first human fatality from the H5N5 strain of avian influenza, according to Washington State Department of Health officials.

The deceased individual was an elderly person with pre-existing health conditions who contracted the virus after exposure to a backyard poultry flock that had interacted with wild birds. The location is approximately 78 miles (125 kilometers) southwest of Seattle.

Despite this concerning development, health authorities have emphasized that "the risk to the public remains low." Officials stated that no other individuals involved in the case have tested positive for avian influenza.

The health department is implementing contact tracing for anyone who had close interaction with the infected person, though they noted that "there is no evidence of transmission of this virus between people."

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention addressed this infection case, indicating that available information does not suggest any increased public health risk resulting from this particular incident.

Experts maintain that H5N5 does not appear to present a more significant threat to human health than the H5N1 virus, which has been responsible for approximately 70 reported human infections across the United States during 2024 and 2025. The majority of these H5N1 cases have resulted in mild illnesses primarily affecting workers at dairy and poultry operations.

The primary difference between H5N5 and H5N1 involves a specific protein that facilitates viral release from infected cells and enhances transmission to surrounding tissue.