A Washington state man is severely ill after contracting a strain of bird flu never seen before in humans, according to health officials. The patient, described as older with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized with symptoms including confusion, high fever, and respiratory distress. The infection occurred through H5N5, a subtype of avian influenza carried by wild birds like ducks and geese. The man has a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry at his home in Grays Harbor County, on the southwest Pacific coast of the state. Two birds recently died, and wild birds could access the property, with officials believing that either set of birds is the source of the virus exposure. The man remains hospitalized as of last week while the investigation continues. Health officials noted that H5N5 is not a new strain but the first time it has infected a person. Experts have stated that infection with H5N5 bird flu virus is a rare one-off event with no widespread implications for the general public. Since the bird flu outbreak began in 2022, most patients have been in either California or Washington, linked to exposure to infected domestic poultry or dairy cows.