October 11, 2024: Influenza A H5N1/bird flu virus particles round and rod-shaped red and yellow. Creative composition and colorization/effects by NIAID transmission electron micrograph imagery is courtesy CDC. Influenza A Virus H5N1/Bird Flu 016867_316
Imago via ZUMA Press
Posted Saturday, November 15, 2025 9:19 am
Elise Takahama / The Seattle Times (TNS)
The Grays Harbor County resident infected with bird flu this month has tested positive for a type of the virus never before detected in humans, state health officials confirmed Friday.
The state Department of Health said Thursday the resident was considered to be preliminarily positive” for influenza A H5, but has since confirmed the infection as the first human case of bird flu in the state this year — and the first in the country in at least eight months. Additional testing with the University of Washington virology lab revealed the virus is H5N5, a type of bird flu that’s previously been reported in animals but not in humans, State Health Officer Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett said in a Friday news conference.
The risk to the public remains low, Kwan-Gett said.
“This is an important scientific and epidemiologic development, but … this new information does not change the investigation, the public health response or guidance to the public,” Kwan-Gett said.
Bird flu rarely infects people and makes them sick; if it does, those with infections typically experience mild symptoms, health officials said. Most cases in people have occurred after they were exposed to sick or infected animals. Person-to-person transmission has not been documented in the U.S. to date.
The Washington resident, an older adult with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized in early November with a high fever, confusion and respiratory distress, health officials have said. They are currently being treated at a King County hospital and are “severely ill,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist. He declined to share details on what their care involves.
The patient has a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry at home that was exposed to wild birds, and was likely exposed to the virus through domestic or wild birds, health officials said.
Two of the backyard birds died from illness a few weeks ago, but the rest remain healthy, Dr. Beth Lipton, the state public health veterinarian, said in the news briefing. The public health investigation is continuing.
Before being hospitalized in King County, the resident also received treatment in Grays Harbor and Thurston counties. The health department declined to share further information about the person’s age or gender, citing patient privacy.
Health agencies and hospitals have followed up with everyone who was in contact with the patient, monitored them for symptoms of influenza and tested those who did have symptoms, Kwan-Gett said. No additional cases had been identified as of Friday.
This is the 15th confirmed or probable case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in Washington since the outbreak began in 2022. The previous 14 people were all exposed through direct contact with dead or sick poultry at a commercial farm and experienced mild symptoms.
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So far this fall, the state has detected the virus in wild birds, a commercial poultry farm and a backyard flock. Since the start of the outbreak, more than 4.1 million birds across 21 counties have become infected in Washington.
About 70 people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., including one person who died in Louisiana.
No cases have been detected in Washington livestock.
H5N5 and H5N1 are part of the family of avian influenza viruses, and H5N1 is “by far the most common in animals and humans,” Kwan-Gett said.
The H5N1 virus has been the one primarily circulating throughout the country, though H5N5 has been detected in some wild birds in other states and in Canada, Lipton said. H5N5 has not been confirmed in any Washington wildlife.
“It’s not a new strain or completely new virus,” Lipton said. “It is just the first time we know of that it has infected a person.
Public health experts say people who work with or have recreational contact with infected birds or cattle are at higher risk, and should wear personal protective equipment, including gloves, masks, eye protection and other outerwear, when interacting with animals.
People with backyard flocks should also avoid contact with any sick or dead birds, and report illness to the Washington State Department of Agriculture by calling 800-606-3056 or reporting online. Any sick or dead wildlife should be reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Health officials have also encouraged people to avoid eating raw or undercooked food, including raw milk, and to make sure they don’t feed those products to pets.
Those who might be exposed to sick birds should also consider getting a seasonal flu vaccine, Kwan-Gett said. While flu shots don’t prevent bird flu, they can help reduce the risk of becoming sick with both human and bird flu at the same time — which, while unlikely, could increase the chance of a new strain of the virus emerging, he said.
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