Washington state has confirmed its first human case of bird flu in nine months after an older adult with underlying medical conditions tested positive for the H5N5 strain, health officials announced Wednesday.

The patient, who developed a high fever, confusion, and severe respiratory distress, was hospitalized in early November, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Laboratory tests later identified the infection as H5N5 — a subtype previously detected in animals but never before seen in a human.

Officials emphasized that the case does not pose a heightened risk to the general public. No additional details about the patient, including age, sex, or name, were released.

The individual keeps a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry that had potential exposure to wild birds, which investigators currently consider the most likely source of infection. Public health teams are now tracing the patient’s recent contacts as part of an ongoing investigation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is closely monitoring the situation.

“While this is an active investigation, at this time there is no information to suggest the risk to public health has increased,” the CDC said in a statement.

This marks Washington’s first human bird flu case of the year and the first confirmed H5N5 infection in a person in the United States. Authorities are working to determine whether the patient’s illness stemmed from direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.