A new strain emerges: First human case of H5N5 bird flu hospitalizes Washington patient
By jacobthomas // 2025-11-22
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  • A Washington state resident has been hospitalized, marking the first confirmed human infection globally with the H5N5 strain of avian influenza.
  • The patient, who has underlying health conditions, owned a backyard poultry flock and had contact with wild birds, which is the most likely source of the infection.
  • Health officials state there is no current evidence that H5N5 is more transmissible or severe than other bird flu strains and consider the immediate public health risk to be low.
  • The case demonstrates the virus' capacity to evolve and reassort unexpectedly, causing serious illness in humans through new genetic combinations.
  • While this is an isolated case, it underscores the persistent threat that avian flu viruses could evolve to spread efficiently between humans, potentially causing a devastating pandemic.
In a development that has caught the attention of virologists and public health officials, a Washington state resident is severely ill and hospitalized with a strain of bird flu never before confirmed in humans. The case, confirmed by state health officials, marks a new, albeit expected, turn in the ongoing global avian influenza outbreak. As noted by BrightU.AI's Enoch, avian influenza is a disease found in birds, with most strains not affecting humans. However, certain strains like H5N1 are highly dangerous, capable of causing severe disease in birds and other animals with very high mortality rates. The patient, an older adult with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized in early November after exhibiting symptoms of a high fever, confusion and severe breathing difficulties. After initial treatment in Grays Harbor County, the individual was transferred to a specialized hospital in King County for a higher level of care. Laboratory tests delivered a significant finding: the patient was infected with the H5N5 strain of avian influenza. Until now, all human cases where the strain could be identified have been linked to H5N1. The appearance of H5N5 in a human demonstrates the "unpredictable" evolution of the virus, as one expert noted. This case is the first human bird flu infection detected in the United States in at least eight months and the first in Washington state this year. Despite the novelty of the strain, officials were quick to temper public concern. Dr. Beth Lipton, the state's public health veterinarian, clarified in a press conference, "[H5N5] is not a new strain or completely new virus. It is just the first time we know of that it has infected a person." Health authorities stress there is currently no evidence that H5N5 is more infectious or causes more severe disease in humans than other avian flu strains. The investigation points to a likely source close to home. The patient owns a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry and had contact with wild birds before falling ill. Officials revealed that two birds from the flock died from an unidentified illness several weeks ago, though the rest currently remain healthy. Human infection typically occurs through exposure to saliva, droppings or the carcasses of infected birds.

It's not H5N1, it's H5N5

Officials have conducted contact tracing and tested symptomatic individuals who were near the patient. No further cases had been detected. However, the event has sparked serious discussion among scientists about the fluid nature of the threat. Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist in Canada, warned on the social media platform X, "It's not H5N1, it's H5N5, but that isn't a relief to me. It's a reassortment that put someone in the hospital. This is unpredictable." This sentiment exists alongside a more measured perspective from other experts. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist in Tennessee, told Newsweek, "Infection with H5N5 bird flu virus likely is a rare one-off event that does not have widespread implications for the general public." Since the massive bird flu outbreak began in January 2022, the U.S. has recorded 71 human infections and one death. The virus has decimated bird populations, affecting an estimated 174 million wild and domestic birds and spilling over into more than 1,000 dairy herds. The recent impact on seven million farmed birds, including 1.3 million turkeys, has even raised concerns about holiday supply. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the current public health risk is low. In an online statement, the agency said it is "watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures." Yet, the emergence of H5N5 serves as a stark reminder of the virus's capacity to adapt. As health officials monitor this single case, the broader, lingering concern articulated by global bodies remains: that a flu strain could evolve to spread efficiently among humans, a scenario with the potential to cause a pandemic with devastating consequences. For now, the watchful waiting continues. Watch this video to learn more about the bird flu virus. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: BrightU.ai DailyMail.co.uk Newsweek.com Brighteon.com
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