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Health authorities in Washington state have confirmed a new human case of H5N1 avian influenza in an older adult with underlying health conditions. The patient was hospitalized in early November after developing severe symptoms, including high fever, confusion, and respiratory distress. This marks the first human bird flu infection reported in the United States in nine months and the fifth case linked to the ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle.
The case is drawing significant attention from health experts because it reportedly involves a strain of the virus previously unseen in humans. While genetic sequencing is ongoing, initial findings suggest the virus is different from the strains identified in the four previous U.S. cases tied to dairy cows. Officials are working to determine the source of the exposure, but it is presumed to be contact with infected livestock. The Washington State Department of Health is leading the investigation with federal support.
Despite the severity of this individual case, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low. H5N1 viruses do not currently spread easily between people, and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission in this instance. Most human infections with avian influenza globally have occurred after direct, unprotected contact with sick or dead infected birds or contaminated environments.
Federal and state health agencies are conducting contact tracing to identify and monitor anyone who may have been exposed to the patient. According to the latest public health assessments, this case underscores the importance of continued vigilance and biosecurity measures on farms to prevent the virus from jumping from animals to humans. The CDC emphasizes that the U.S. food supply, including pasteurized dairy products and properly cooked poultry, remains safe. Officials continue to enhance surveillance of both animal and human populations to quickly detect any further spread.
