A man from Washington has become the first person to die from a strain of bird flu never previously detected in humans, raising concerns among health authorities about emerging viral threats.
Details of the fatal case
The victim, described as an older individual with pre-existing health conditions, succumbed to complications from the H5N5 avian influenza variant. This marks the first reported bird flu case in the United States in nine months and only the second fatality recorded this year.
Washington State Department of Health officials revealed the man maintained a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds, which tested positive for avian influenza. This strongly suggests he contracted the virus directly from his own poultry at home.
Health authorities have moved quickly to reassure the public, noting that no close contacts of the deceased have tested positive for the virus. The Centers for Disease Control emphasised that the current risk to the general population remains low.
Symptoms and transmission risks
When humans contract bird flu, they can experience severe illness with symptoms that often mirror conventional influenza but may be more intense. These include:
- Fever and sore throat
- Cough and respiratory issues
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
- Muscle aches and extreme fatigue
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Despite the severity of illness in infected individuals, bird flu rarely transmits between humans. Those at highest risk remain people who work directly with poultry or other birds.
Growing concerns about pandemic potential
This tragic case emerges amid warnings from infectious disease experts about the potential for avian influenza to trigger the next global pandemic. H5N1 cases have been recorded in all 50 US states among people who had contact with sick animals, while the virus continues to spread widely in wild bird populations worldwide.
Dr Robert Murphy, a professor of infectious diseases and biomedical engineering at Northwestern University, told Metro: "We have to worry because it could be another pandemic. It definitely could be."
While no evidence currently exists of human-to-human transmission of H5N1, Dr Murphy noted it is "a kind of virus that mutates very easily and frequently", highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
In preparation for potential outbreaks, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and similar international agencies have been stockpiling millions of doses of avian flu vaccines for humans, though these would require adaptation to match any pandemic strain.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while emphasising that current risk levels to the general public remain unchanged.
