Taiwan says first fatal H5N5 human case poses low risk

Taipei, Nov. 23 (CNA) The world's first fatal human infection of the H5N5 avian influenza strain, reported in the United States last week, is not currently assessed as posing a human-to-human transmission risk, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Sunday.

He made the remarks when asked about the case after Washington state health officials confirmed Friday that an elderly resident had died after contracting the H5N5 virus -- a strain previously detected only in animals.

All contacts linked to the patient's backyard poultry environment are under monitoring, and none have tested positive. U.S. federal and state agencies said the public health risk remains low, Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (TCDC) said in a statement.

Shih, citing TCDC information, said before attending a pharmaceutical science seminar Sunday that the virus appears to be a newly recombined strain.

The U.S. CDC has found no evidence of human-to-human transmission, he noted, adding that Taiwan will continue to monitor related developments.

With winter marking peak migratory bird season, Shih urged travelers to avoid contact with poultry or wild birds to reduce potential exposure.

TCDC said Washington state has been under Taiwan's Level 1 "Watch" advisory for novel influenza A viruses since April. As no onward transmission has been detected, the advisory level will remain unchanged.

Taiwan has recorded four sporadic human cases of novel influenza A since 2014, none involving secondary infections. This year, 72 avian cases have been detected in domestic surveillance, and all 389 serum samples from 858 traced contacts have tested negative. No human cases have been reported locally in 2025, according to the TCDC statement.

The World Health Organization continues to assess the overall public risk from novel influenza A viruses as low, though exposure risk is higher for people who handle poultry or livestock, according to the TCDC.