Global Health Alert

A resident of Washington state in the United States has died after contracting the H5N5 avian influenza virus, marking the world's first-known human fatality from this rare strain. The Washington State Department of Health confirmed on Friday, November 21, 2025, that the patient, an older adult with underlying health conditions, had been hospitalized since early November after developing severe symptoms including high fever, confusion, and respiratory distress. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later confirmed the H5N5 diagnosis. Health officials believe the individual was exposed to the virus through a backyard flock of poultry that had come into contact with wild birds. While investigators have found no evidence of human-to-human transmission and maintain that the immediate risk to the public is low, the emergence of a new fatal zoonotic strain is a significant global health development.

Kenya's Poultry Sector on High Alert

While the H5N5 case is geographically distant, it serves as a critical warning for Kenya, where the poultry sector is a cornerstone of the agricultural economy and a vital source of livelihood for millions. Kenya's position along major migratory bird routes makes it inherently vulnerable to the introduction of new and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains. Past regional outbreaks, such as the detection of HPAI in wild terns and domestic birds in Uganda in 2017, have previously put Kenyan authorities on high alert, leading to import bans and heightened surveillance. According to a 2024 review on avian influenza in Kenya, surveillance data showed a concerning increase in the prevalence of avian influenza viruses in poultry, rising from 0.8% in 2009-2011 to 3.9% in 2018-2020, a trend exacerbated by biosecurity challenges in live bird markets.

National Preparedness Under Scrutiny

The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, is the lead agency for animal health surveillance in Kenya. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the DVS is responsible for implementing the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan. This framework outlines strategies for surveillance, early detection, and rapid response to potential outbreaks. However, research from institutions like the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has previously highlighted that the prevalence of 'backyard poultry systems'—similar to the setting of the Washington H5N5 case—makes disease control exceptionally challenging. An avian flu outbreak could have severe economic consequences, with studies indicating potential losses to the Kenyan economy ranging from US$38 million to US$248 million, depending on the severity. Such an event would disproportionately impact poor farmers who rely on poultry for income.

The Nature of the H5N5 Threat

Avian influenza Type A viruses naturally circulate among wild aquatic birds but can spill over into domestic poultry and, on rare occasions, mammals, including humans. Human infections typically occur through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments. The H5N5 strain is a subtype of the H5 virus family, which includes the more widely known H5N1. While experts suggest H5N5 is not inherently more dangerous to humans than H5N1, any instance of a virus jumping the species barrier and causing fatal disease is a major concern for global health bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO). Such events increase the risk of the virus mutating to become more easily transmissible between people, the prerequisite for a pandemic. The symptoms of H5N5 in humans are similar to other severe influenza infections, including fever, cough, respiratory distress, and in severe cases, pneumonia and death.

A Call for Bolstered Biosecurity

The death in the U.S. underscores the urgent need for continuous and enhanced biosecurity measures in Kenya. This includes robust surveillance at live bird markets and farms, public awareness campaigns for smallholder farmers on how to protect their flocks, and strict monitoring of wild bird populations. The DVS has previously established early warning systems involving passive surveillance and outbreak investigations. Given the persistent threat, strengthening these systems and ensuring rapid diagnostic capacity are paramount. For now, the global focus remains on the investigation in Washington, but for Kenya, this event is a stark reminder of an ever-present threat that demands unwavering vigilance and preparedness. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.