Khaberni - In an alarming precedent, the State of Washington has recorded a man infected with a strain of avian influenza that had never before been recorded in humans and was previously only known in animals.
The man, who was described as "severely ill", was admitted to the hospital earlier this month, suffering from high fever, confusion, and breathing difficulties. His infection with the H5N5 strain, a subtype of avian influenza typically carried by wild birds like ducks and geese, was confirmed.
The Washington State Department of Health described the patient as "elderly" and suffering from "underlying health issues", noting that the man owns a "mixed flock of backyard poultry" at his home in Grays Harbor County on the southwestern coast of the state.
Recently, two of the birds died, according to the "Washington Post", and wild birds can access the property. Health officials believe that any group of these birds is the most likely source of exposure to the virus.
The man remained in the hospital until last week while investigations continue. The Washington health authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have affirmed that the risk to the general public is low.
No other cases of H5N5 infection have been recorded, and there is no evidence of transmission from person to person, although experts warn that the virus's evolution can be "unpredictable".
The H5N1 strain is more common in the United States, but remains rare. The difference between the two strains lies in a protein found on the surface of the virus. The H5N1 strain has continued since 2022 to infect wild birds, domestic poultry, cattle, and occasionally humans.
Since 2024, about 71 human cases of avian influenza H5 have been recorded in the United States, the majority of which presented with mild symptoms, though a patient in Louisiana died last January.
The infected man was raising chickens in his backyard, and these birds had come into contact with wild birds, which was considered the likely cause of the infection.
