A resident of
Grays Harbor County with underlying health conditions has died from the rare
H5N5 bird flu, marking the first known human fatality from this strain and the second bird flu death in the US in 2025.
This older adult was hospitalized in early November in Kings County after developing severe symptoms and passed away recently. Health officials confirmed the source of infection likely came from a backyard flock exposed to wild birds, and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, with public risk considered low.