Hasty Briefsbeta

  • #avian flu
  • #public health
  • #H5N5
  • A Grays Harbor County resident died from H5N5 avian flu, the first recorded human case globally.
  • The deceased was an older adult with underlying health conditions and had a backyard poultry flock.
  • The virus was confirmed by UW Medicine and CDC, with 71 cases nationwide and two deaths in the U.S. since 2024.
  • Public health officials state the risk to the public remains low, with no other positive cases detected.
  • Exposure to domestic or wild birds is the suspected source of infection.
  • Officials are monitoring contacts for symptoms, but no human-to-human transmission has been found.