WASHINGTON D.C.: The United States has confirmed the world’s first human case of the H5N5 strain of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). The affected individual is an elderly resident of Grays Harbor, Washington, with pre-existing health conditions.
The Washington State Department of Health reported that the individual was admitted to the hospital in early November with symptoms consistent with Avian Influenza. This marks the first time this specific subtype, previously identified only in animals and birds, has been confirmed in a human.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the individual’s domesticated chickens had contact with wild birds. Health officials suggest that either the poultry or the wild bird population could be the source of the infection, which can be transmitted to humans through unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.
Avian Influenza, or ‘Bird Flu,’ is an illness caused by Influenza A viruses that typically affects bird populations. Influenza A viruses are categorized based on their surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (N). The A (H5) viral group includes various subtypes such as H5N1, H5N5, and H5N8. The confirmation of H5N5 in a human is being monitored closely by health agencies globally.
