GRAYS HARBOR, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A state resident who caught the world’s first case of a rare bird flu strain has died.
The state Department of Health (DOH) announced that the resident in Grays Harbor County passed away on Friday.
The person, who was an older adult with underlying health conditions, had been hospitalized in King County for the past few weeks.
The DOH says they had a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds and other people who were exposed to the flock are being monitored for symptoms.
Still, the department says no one else has tested positive for bird flu and the risk to the public remains low.
Transmission of bird flu between humans is extremely rare and has never been documented before in the United States.
It comes as Whatcom County Health and Community Services says that recent testing found avian influenza among a flock of wild birds near Wiser Lake earlier this month.
The department is reminding the public never to touch any sick bird or other wild animal.
