H5N5 bird flu claims first human life; Health officials on alert

A rare strain of bird flu, H5N5, has caused the first-ever human death in Washington, USA, sparking global concern. Health officials confirmed the victim had multiple medical issues and was in direct contact with poultry, which likely caused the infection.

Post Published By: Sona Saini

Updated : 22 November 2025, 3:09 PM IST

First-Ever Human Death from H5N5 Confirmed in Washington

New Delhi: Infectious disease outbreaks have been steadily increasing worldwide over the past decade. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, new and rare strains of bird flu are becoming a new concern for health experts. Recently, the first human death from the H5N5 strain of bird flu was confirmed in Washington State, USA. This case has become a topic of global discussion.

How did the death occur?

According to the Washington State Department of Health, the deceased person was very old and suffered from several serious comorbidities. Initial investigations revealed that the deceased person was regularly in contact with poultry, which increased the risk of infection. Officials stated that the virus worsened and he died due to the person's poor health.

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How serious is the threat from the H5N5 strain?

According to experts, the H5N5 strain, which is considered a rare strain of the bird flu family, is not as dangerous as H5N1. H5N1 infected 70 humans in the United States between 2024–2025, most of whom were dairy and poultry farm workers. Even in these cases, the illness was very mild. A key protein difference has been found between H5N5 and H5N1, which affects the spread of the virus. Scientists are still studying its impact on humans.

There is no risk of human infection yet. The state health department has clarified that there is currently no indication of H5N5 spreading to humans. People who came in close contact with the deceased are being monitored, but no one has shown symptoms of infection so far. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also stated that there is no evidence of the new strains being capable of causing a human-borne pandemic.

Threat of new strains: D1.1 variant also in discussion

Furthermore, the US Department of Agriculture reported in February 2025 that a new bird flu variant, D1.1, had been confirmed in several cattle in Nevada, which was considered different from the currently circulating variants and potentially more dangerous. Initial studies also showed this variant's potential to cause a pandemic.

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Signs of Infection in Humans, Cows, and Rats

Bird flu has traditionally been a bird virus, but in recent years it has also infected cows and humans. In February 2025, bird flu infection was confirmed in rats for the first time, further alarming health experts. Since rats are also found in households, this could increase the risk of human infection.