A man is currently hospitalized in critical condition due to a novel virus that has not been previously observed in humans but has been identified in animals.
The individual was admitted to the hospital earlier this month exhibiting symptoms such as a high fever, confusion, and respiratory distress. Subsequent tests confirmed that he had contracted H5N5, a subtype of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, typically found in ducks, geese, and other wild birds.
As of last week, the man was still receiving treatment in the hospital, and health authorities are actively investigating the origin of his illness. Fortunately, no other cases of the H5N5 strain have been reported.
The Washington State Department of Health disclosed that the patient is an elderly individual with underlying health issues. Additionally, he kept a mixed backyard flock of domestic birds at his residence in Grays Harbour County, located in the southwest part of the United States.
Authorities believe that the virus may have been transmitted to the individual through contact with wild birds that had access to his property. While there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission at this point, experts caution that the virus’s behavior can be unpredictable.
Although H5N1 is more prevalent in the US, it is still considered rare, distinguished from H5N5 by a specific surface protein. H5N1 has affected both wild birds and domestic poultry since 2022, leading to 71 documented cases of H5 bird flu in the US over the past year.
Most patients exhibited mild symptoms, but a fatality was reported in Louisiana in January. In contrast, the UK recorded 81 cases of bird flu.
Confirmed cases have been reported in various regions in the UK, including Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Scotland, and Wales. Symptoms of bird flu include high fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches.