Washington Patient Dies After Rare Bird Flu Infection

Key Takeaways

A rare bird flu case in Washington has led to a death

The specific strain had not been seen in humans before

Officials say the overall public risk is low

MONDAY, Nov. 24, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A rare bird flu virus has claimed the life of a Washington state resident , making it the first known human case of this specific strain in the U.S.

State health officials said the patient, an older adult with underlying medical conditions, died on Friday after being hospitalized since early November.

The person had been infected with H5N5 avian influenza, a strain that had only been seen before in animals, not in humans.

The individual was "a severely ill patient," state epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist told The Washington Post .

Health officials stressed that the ri