A woman in her senior years from southeastern Wyoming has been hospitalized due to avian influenza, state health officials announced on Friday.

This incident marks Wyoming’s first human case of Type A H5N1 flu, which has been increasingly reported among both animals and humans. In the past year, approximately 70 individuals across the United States have been documented as infected with bird flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, experts believe this number may be a significant underrepresentation.

Reports indicate that the woman, who resides in Platte County, had a backyard chicken flock that became ill and perished. A spokesperson for the CDC mentioned that she likely had direct contact with these infected birds. Additionally, it was noted that the woman has underlying health issues and is currently hospitalized in another state.

Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state health officer and epidemiologist, reassured the residents of Wyoming that there is no need for excessive concern regarding this isolated human case, as confirmed by the CDC on Friday.

Most human cases of bird flu reported in the U.S. have typically presented with mild symptoms.

“Regrettably, this patient’s situation has proven to be much more severe,” Harrist stated in a recent press release.

A recent CDC study indicated that avian flu has quietly transmitted from animals to certain veterinarians.

Since 2022, bird flu has been circulating among wild birds in the U.S. The virus was detected for the first time in dairy cows last year and has affected over 960 cattle herds across 16 states.