Why it matters: This is the first confirmed human case of H5N5 globally, according to the health department.
Threat level: State health officials say the public risk remains low and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
State of play: The person who died — an older adult with underlying health conditions — kept a backyardflock of mixed domestic birds, per DOH.
Testing of the backyard bird-flock environment found highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
DOH says people who had contact with the flock or the patient are being monitored, and none have tested positive so far.
Catch up quick: Washington had the second-highest number of H5N1 bird flu cases in the country last month, a pattern officials say is partly due to the state's position along major migratory bird routes and its proximity to Canada and Alaska.
