First-ever human case of rare bird flu strain confirmed in western US

The case also marks the country's first human bird flu diagnosis since February.

The patient, described by officials as "an older adult with underlying health conditions," remains hospitalized after showing influenza-like symptoms in early November. 

The DOH stated that the individual "had a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry at home that had exposure to wild birds.

Public health experts have not found any increased risk to the public to date, according to the press release.

"Transmission of avian influenza between humans is extremely rare and has never been documented in the United States," the report states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DOH "currently consider the risk to the public from avian influenza to be low."

The DOH urges poultry owners, wildlife handlers and others who have contact with animals to exercise caution. 

The agency's emergency response to H5N1 bird flu, which was activated in 2024, was "deactivated" July 2, the agency told Reuters, citing declining animal infections and an absence of human cases since February.

While H5N1 has caused human illness - and even deaths - for years, H5N5 has mostly been limited to birds until now, per health officials.