This claim is true. In Washington, the first known case has been hospitalized with a new strain of bird flu. Outlets like ABC and USA Today echoed these same claims. It has been nearly nine months since there has been a bird flu case reported in a human. The individual infected had exposure to a backyard flock that also had exposure to wild animals. The health officials in Washington are in an ongoing investigation to trace the source of the new strain. It is unclear the condition of the person infected as they remain hospitalized.
Washington State Health officials assured people that the new strain does not appear to be more infectious than other bird flu strains. At this time, the new strain does not seem to be any kind of outbreak or a risk to public safety. However, the strain has yet to be investigated by the CDC, and it is still unclear exactly what kind of birds it affects.
