Commonground
Senior Moderator
Contact Us 509.324.1442
Confirmed Case of H5N5 Influenza in a Washington Resident
Posted Dec. 4, 2025. Past health advisories and alerts are archived for historical purposes and are not maintained or updated.
A Grays Harbor County resident has become the first known human case of H5N5 influenza (a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza). On Nov. 21, this Grays Harbor County resident died.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WA DOH currently consider the risk from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to be low for the general public. Actions Requested
Identify Suspected Cases
Be alert for patients with symptoms of influenza.
Clinicians and facilities in all health care settings are required to immediately report the following to Spokane Regional Health District by calling the duty officer at 509-869-3133:
If a patient with suspected HPAI is currently in your facility, collect specimens for influenza testing as soon as possible after illness onset. Follow specimen submission guidelines for all specimens submitted to WAPHL. Manage Suspect Cases
Follow CDC’s Clinical Guidance for Evaluating Patients and Treatment and Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) of Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection | Bird Flu | CDC. Do not wait for influenza confirmation.
Refer to CDC's Interim Guidance on the Use of Antiviral Medications for additional information about treating patients with suspected or confirmed HPAI. Education for Patients
Advise patients not to handle sick or dead birds or other wildlife. Instead:
Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses, which naturally occur in wild aquatic birds around the world. On rare occasions, avian influenza can infect people and make them sick. Most cases have occurred among people who have been exposed to sick or infected animals. The risk of avian influenza increases in the fall and winter because migratory birds can carry the virus and spread it to domestic animals including commercial poultry farms and backyard flocks.
Transmission of avian influenza between humans is extremely rare and has not been documented in the United States. To ensure that human-to-human spread is not occurring, public health officials are contacting anyone who has been in close contact with the patient to monitor for symptoms and provide testing and treatment as needed.
CDC has routinely recommended influenza testing for hospitalized patients with suspected influenza. In light of the continued circulation of avian influenza A(H5) virus among wild and domestic animals in Washington state, CDC and WA DOH recommend subtyping of all influenza A virus-positive specimens from hospitalized patients.
The CDC considers the risk of HPAI A(H5) infections to be low for the general public but is closely monitoring this situation. As seasonal influenza activity begins to increase in Washington and across the United States, the greatest risk to the general public is seasonal influenza. WA DOH publishes a Weekly Influenza Update for seasonal influenza on our Influenza Surveillance Data webpage. Resources
For more information about H5 Influenza, please visit:
To report suspected cases of HPAI, or for any other questions, please contact Spokane Regional Health District.
https://srhd.org/h5n5-influenza-advisory-for-health-care-providers-dec-5-2025
Confirmed Case of H5N5 Influenza in a Washington Resident
Posted Dec. 4, 2025. Past health advisories and alerts are archived for historical purposes and are not maintained or updated.
A Grays Harbor County resident has become the first known human case of H5N5 influenza (a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza). On Nov. 21, this Grays Harbor County resident died.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WA DOH currently consider the risk from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to be low for the general public. Actions Requested
Identify Suspected Cases
Be alert for patients with symptoms of influenza.
- Symptoms of avian influenza infection in humans can range from mild to severe and can be similar to seasonal influenza symptoms.
- Getting an accurate exposure history from symptomatic patients is very important to rapidly identify potential patients with HPAI.
- Wild, captive, and livestock animals, including poultry and cattle
- Any sick or dead animals or their environment, including pets (i.e., cats, dogs, birds)
- Consuming or handling raw animal products (e.g., raw cow milk, products made with raw cow milk, and raw meat-based pet food)
- OR recent close contact (within six feet) with a symptomatic person who is suspected or confirmed to have avian influenza.
- If possible, WA DOH recommends adding the above screening questions to the electronic medical record (EMR).
- NOTE: A negative influenza test result does not rule out avian influenza in symptomatic patients with one or more exposures to sources of HPAI.
- If HPAI is suspected, implement standard, contact, and airborne precautions.
- All staff should use appropriate PPE, including a respirator (fit-tested NIOSH approved disposable N-95 filtering facepiece or powered air purifying respirator), eye protection, gown, and gloves.
- The patient should be placed in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR, i.e. negative pressure).
Clinicians and facilities in all health care settings are required to immediately report the following to Spokane Regional Health District by calling the duty officer at 509-869-3133:
- All influenza A specimens that result as "unsubtypeable" (when the subtype of influenza cannot be determined by available tests).
- All suspected or confirmed cases of novel influenza, including HPAI (H3 or H5), and regardless of influenza test results.
If a patient with suspected HPAI is currently in your facility, collect specimens for influenza testing as soon as possible after illness onset. Follow specimen submission guidelines for all specimens submitted to WAPHL. Manage Suspect Cases
Follow CDC’s Clinical Guidance for Evaluating Patients and Treatment and Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) of Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection | Bird Flu | CDC. Do not wait for influenza confirmation.
Refer to CDC's Interim Guidance on the Use of Antiviral Medications for additional information about treating patients with suspected or confirmed HPAI. Education for Patients
Advise patients not to handle sick or dead birds or other wildlife. Instead:
- People can report sick or dead wild birds or other wild animals to the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife.
- People can report sick or dead domestic animals, including backyard flocks or livestock suspected of having avian influenza to the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
- WA DOH and the CDC continue to recommend seasonal influenza vaccine for patients 6 months of age and older.
Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses, which naturally occur in wild aquatic birds around the world. On rare occasions, avian influenza can infect people and make them sick. Most cases have occurred among people who have been exposed to sick or infected animals. The risk of avian influenza increases in the fall and winter because migratory birds can carry the virus and spread it to domestic animals including commercial poultry farms and backyard flocks.
Transmission of avian influenza between humans is extremely rare and has not been documented in the United States. To ensure that human-to-human spread is not occurring, public health officials are contacting anyone who has been in close contact with the patient to monitor for symptoms and provide testing and treatment as needed.
CDC has routinely recommended influenza testing for hospitalized patients with suspected influenza. In light of the continued circulation of avian influenza A(H5) virus among wild and domestic animals in Washington state, CDC and WA DOH recommend subtyping of all influenza A virus-positive specimens from hospitalized patients.
The CDC considers the risk of HPAI A(H5) infections to be low for the general public but is closely monitoring this situation. As seasonal influenza activity begins to increase in Washington and across the United States, the greatest risk to the general public is seasonal influenza. WA DOH publishes a Weekly Influenza Update for seasonal influenza on our Influenza Surveillance Data webpage. Resources
For more information about H5 Influenza, please visit:
- Washington State DOH Avian Influenza
- Washington State DOH Influenza Surveillance Data (Weekly Influenza Update)
- Washington State DOH Influenza Virus Testing at the Washington Public Health Laboratories (WAPHL)
- Washington State Department of Agriculture Avian Influenza in Livestock and Pets
- Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife Avian Influenza in Wild Animals
- CDC H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation
- CDC Signs and Symptoms of Bird Flu in People
- CDC Interim Guidance on the Use of Antiviral Medications for Treatment of Human Infections with Novel Influenza A Viruses Associated with Severe Human Disease
To report suspected cases of HPAI, or for any other questions, please contact Spokane Regional Health District.
https://srhd.org/h5n5-influenza-advisory-for-health-care-providers-dec-5-2025