Washington DC/IBNS, Nov. 22 -- A Grays Harbor County resident, who was undergoing treatment for H5N5 avian influenza or bird flu, died on Friday, the Washington Department of Health said.

The person was an older adult with underlying health conditions.

Testing at the UW Medicine Clinical Virology Lab identified the virus as H5N5, making this the first recorded infection with this variant in a person globally. The result was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

However, the Health Department says the risk to the public is still low.

According to the government department, Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses, which naturally occur in wild aquatic birds around the world.

These vi...