Influenza A H5, an avian flu, first time in a human

[Astronuc]

A strain of bird flu never seen in humans infected a Washington state resident and left the person hospitalized, according to state health authorities.

Washington State Department of Health authorities announced that an older resident was hospitalized in early November with flu-like symptoms. Health department spokesperson Roberto Bonaccorso told USA TODAY on Nov. 19 that the person remains hospitalized. The person has underlying health conditions and keeps backyard poultry that were exposed to wild birds.

According to health department officials, the person is the first to be infected with influenza A H5, an avian flu. The risk to the public from bird flu is low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bonaccorso said the health department had seen no other infections related to the case.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/patient-hospitalized-first-human-case-034330047.html

The case out of Grays County, west of Seattle on the Pacific Ocean, is the latest in the spread of bird flu around the nation which has infected over 1,000 dairy cattle herds in 17 U.S. states since the virus was initially found in dairy cows in March 2024, according to the USDA.

There has been one confirmed death in connection with the disease. In early January, a backyard flock keeper hospitalized with bird flu in Louisiana became the first person in the United States to die of the disease after contracting the virus’s D1.1 variant. The individual was older than 65 years old and was reported to have underlying medical conditions.

Well, the article is confusing with declaring 'A strain of bird flu never seen in humans', then giving an example of a "There has been one confirmed death in connection with the disease. In early January, . . . ", unless they are referring to 'influenza' from a type of avian influenza.

Genetic Sequences of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Identified in a Person in Louisiana​

https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-12232024.html

Of course, anyone with.a co-morbitiy is at greater risk of mortality with many viral infections.

H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation (November 2025)​

https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

 

[256bits]

Bird flu always brings me to the same questions.

How lethal is bird flu in humans compared to other flu's?
Does the annihilation of a complete flock of chicken's justified when some get sick?
Could chickens eventually become 'immune' to the disease the same as ducks? as carriers only?
Would this be a good of bad thing?

 

[BillTre]

How lethal is bird flu in humans compared to other flu's?

varies with the strain of flu.

Does the annihilation of a complete flock of chicken's justified when some get sick?

In some cases, this is fairly standard. Animals are the perview of vets. Often their main concern is the health of the flock. In some cases the flock can include larger groups so nuking a local flock is justified.

Could chickens eventually become 'immune' to the disease the same as ducks? as carriers only?

Possible. Ask their immune system.

Would this be a good of bad thing?

Having a reservoir of virus pathogenic to humans in large numbers of animals humans frequently interact with would usually be considered not a good thing.

 

[256bits]

In some cases, this is fairly standard. Animals are the perview of vets. Often their main concern is the health of the flock. In some cases the flock can include larger groups so nuking a local flock is justified

That us the standard treatment for domesticated birds by treaty or agreement between countries that wish to trade in avian products - nuke the flock if one has been determined to have acquired avian flu.
At the present, the disease is hazardous to chickens; an inspection would determine the cause of death.

A spread is ongoing towards Australia and surrounding areas, presently risk free. Meaning of course that all continents will have the devastating H5N1 affecting their animal population if and when the strain crosses over the ocean, from Heard Island.

some casualties from this strain: for the southern hemisphere
This strain is found on every continent except Australia. It has wiped out over 100,000 wild birds in Peru, 4,000 sea lions in Chile and 8,000 Eurasian cranes in Israel and caused 97% mortality in southern elephant seal pups in Argentina.
Hence, the concern for the elephant seals on Heard Island.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...ntarctic-island/ar-AA1RodgL?ocid=BingNewsSerp

 

[Astronuc]

the disease is hazardous to chickens

It's more than just chickens, but domesticated fowl/birds, which may interact with wild/migratory birds.

Bird flu (or avian influenza) is a disease that affects wild and domestic bird populations, which can be spread to mammal species.