US records second human bird flu death in 2025

A resident of Washington State has died after contracting a rare strain of bird flu previously found only in animals, state health officials said — marking the second human fatality linked to the virus in the United States this year.

The patient, identified only as “an older adult with underlying health conditions,” had been hospitalised since early this month, the Washington State Department of Health said on Friday.

Tests conducted by the University of Washington confirmed that the patient was infected with H5N5 avian influenza, the department said in a statement, describing it as “the first recorded infection with this variant in a person globally.”

The result was later confirmed by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The risk to the public remains low. No other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza,” the department said. “There is no evidence of transmission of this virus between people.”

The patient kept “a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds,” which officials believe was the likely source of exposure.

The CDC has recorded more than 70 human cases of bird flu in the US this year. Another person died after contracting the H5N1 strain in Louisiana in January.

Globally, the World Health Organisation has recorded more than 1,000 human cases of bird flu across 25 countries since 2003, covering all strains of the virus.

AFP

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