First-ever human death from H5N5 bird flu recorded worldwide

First-ever human death from H5N5 bird flu recorded worldwide

The first human death from H5N5 bird flu has been reported in the United States. The patient, who lived in Washington State, was elderly and had serious underlying health conditions. The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed. A small flock of various birds was found in the patient’s backyard.

Health officials stated that the risk to the public is low: none of the people who had contact with the patient tested positive for the virus, and no human-to-human transmission has been observed. Previously, around 70 cases of H5N1 had been recorded in the U.S. over the past year and a half, but this first H5N5-related death is being viewed as a new development.

In many cases, the illness causes mild symptoms, though some patients experience severe complications.

Experts note that although bird flu has long circulated among birds, in recent years it has increasingly been detected in mammals as well.