An elderly woman from southeastern Wyoming has been admitted to the hospital due to avian influenza, as reported by health department officials on Friday.

This incident marks the first recorded human case of Type A H5N1 influenza in the state. The virus is currently spreading among animal populations and occasionally affecting humans. In the past year, nearly 70 individuals in the United States have been reported to have contracted bird flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, many experts believe this number may be an understatement.

The woman, residing in Platte County, Wyoming, likely contracted the virus through direct exposure to an infected flock of poultry at her residence. She has pre-existing health issues and is currently hospitalized in a different state.

Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state health officer and epidemiologist, reassured Wyoming residents that they should not be excessively worried about this human case, which was confirmed by the CDC on Friday.

Most reported cases of bird flu in humans throughout the U.S. have exhibited mild symptoms.

“Unfortunately, this specific case has involved more severe complications,” Harrist stated in the news release.

A recent study by the CDC indicates that avian influenza has been quietly transmitting from animals to some veterinarians.

The virus has been prevalent in wild birds across the U.S. since 2022 and was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle last year, affecting over 960 herds across 16 states.

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