Bird flu symptoms to know after first human death from rare H5N5 strain

A man has died of bird flu after becoming the first person infected with a rare strain (Image: Getty)

A man has died after becoming the first known person to contract a rare strain of bird flu. The patient, from Washington state in the US, passed away after testing positive for H5N5 avian influenza virus.

This strain has been detected in birds in the UK , with outbreaks at poultry farms in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Kent, and Cumbria this month.

Officials said the patient was admitted to hospital after becoming severely unwell with flu-like symptoms including high fever, respiratory distress, and confusion. The Washington State Department of Health described the man as being "older" and having "underlying health conditions."

It isn't known exactly how he contracted the infection. Howev