The death occurred in Washington state. The local health department reported that the patient was infected with a previously unknown strain of H5N5 to humans. A small group of domestic birds of various breeds was found in his backyard. The names of the family members are not disclosed for privacy reasons.
Previously, all cases of illness among people in the USA over the past 18 months were linked to the H5N1 strain. The death in Washington marks an important milestone, as the H5N5 virus, previously identified only in animals, has now led to a fatal outcome in a human for the first time.
