Health
First-ever human case of rare bird flu strain confirmed in western US
Can bird flu be the next pandemic?
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, weighs in on how concerned people should be about bird flu spreading on ‘Fox Report.’
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The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed that a resident of Grays Harbor County is the first person in the U.S. known to be infected with the H5N5 strain of avian influenza.
The case also marks the country’s first human bird flu diagnosis since February.
The patient, described by officials as “an older adult with underlying health conditions,” remains hospitalized after showing influenza-like symptoms in early November.
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The DOH stated that the individual “had a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry at home that had exposure to wild birds.
“Additional testing shows the virus to be H5N5, an avian influenza virus that has previously been reported in animals but never before in humans.”
The H5N5 virus is a close cousin of H5N1 — both are types of bird flu — but they’re not the same, experts say. (Reuters/Mike Blake)
Domestic poultry and wild birds are considered the most likely sources of the virus exposure, though the health investigation is ongoing.
Public health experts have not found any increased risk to the public to date, according to the press release.
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“Transmission of avian influenza between humans is extremely rare and has never been documented in the United States,” the report states.
The patient, who is only described as an “older adult,” remains hospitalized as of the latest report. (iStock)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DOH “currently consider the risk to the public from avian influenza to be low.”
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The DOH urges poultry owners, wildlife handlers and others who have contact with animals to exercise caution.
Measures include avoiding contact with sick or dead birds, using appropriate protective equipment and reporting sick wildlife or domestic animals to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
“Infection with both [regular flu and bird flu] could result in the emergence of an avian influenza virus that is more easily transmitted from person to person.” (iStock)
The release also emphasizes that although the seasonal flu vaccine does not prevent bird flu infections, it is important because “infection with both viruses could result in the emergence of an avian influenza virus that is more easily transmitted from person to person.”
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Previously this year, the CDC declared the bird flu emergency officially over.
The agency’s emergency response to H5N1 bird flu, which was activated in 2024, was “deactivated” July 2, the agency told Reuters, citing declining animal infections and an absence of human cases since February.
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The H5N5 virus is a close cousin of H5N1. While both viruses come from birds and share part of their genetic code, H5N5 has a different “end piece” of its structure that changes how it behaves, experts say.
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While H5N1 has caused human illness — and even deaths — for years, H5N5 has mostly been limited to birds until now, per health officials.
Health
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Health
What to know about Cushing’s syndrome, which led to Amy Schumer’s dramatic weight loss
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Comedian Amy Schumer, 44, has recently come clean about her struggle with Cushing’s syndrome, leading to a dramatic weight loss.
Schumer’s transformation has sparked conversation online, to which she responded in a now-deleted Instagram post that shut down speculation about cosmetic enhancements.
“I didn’t lose 30lbs — I lost 50,” she emphasized on social media, adding that she does not get Botox or filler.
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Schumer doubled down that her weight loss was not about her appearance, but about staying alive.
“Not to look hot, which does feel fun and temporary,” she said. “I did it to survive. I had a disease that makes your face extremely puffy that can kill you, but the internet caught it and that disease has cleared.”
Amy Schumer attends Variety’s 2024 Power of Women: New York event on May 2, 2024, in New York City on the left. On the right, Schumer later poses for a photo posted to Instagram after her weight loss. (Marleen Moise/WireImage; Amy Schumer/Instagram)
“Sorry for whatever feeling it’s giving you that I lost that weight,” she added. “I’ve had plastic surgery over the years and I use [Mounjaro]. Sorry to anyone they let down. I’m pain free. I can [play] tag with my son.”
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The actress also addressed her shifting hormones, saying that she’s “happy to share more if anyone has any questions about how I’m looking or feeling or where I am in my perimenopause process.”
“I didn’t lose 30lbs — I lost 50,” Schumer emphasized on social media, adding that she does not get Botox or filler. (Amy Schumer/Instagram)
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Schumer previously revealed that she had been diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal disorder that can cause extreme swelling, fatigue and potentially fatal complications.
Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight loss specialist in New Jersey, provided more details on the condition in an interview with Fox News Digital.
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“Cushing’s syndrome is caused by prolonged, high exposure to cortisol, which is your body’s main stress hormone,” he said. “Usually, the excess cortisol is a result of prolonged steroid use. We see this many times with patients who have some autoimmune disorder.”
Balazs said the “key” to Cushing’s syndrome is not just weight gain, but a “specific redistribution” of fat caused by too much cortisol.
Amy Schumer is photographed during a guest interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Feb. 13, 2024 (left), and later seen walking through midtown New York City on Oct. 28, 2025 (right). (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty Images)
Fat may be driven to the abdomen, chest, upper back (referred to as a “buffalo hump”) or face, sometimes considered “moon face,” the doctor said.
Cortisol also breaks down protein, which leads to a thinning in the arms and legs. “Weight gain can be tough, involuntary and hard to manage,” Balazs added.
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Cortisol stimulates “hunger centers” in the brain, raises blood sugar and promotes fat storage, especially deep belly fat, according to the doctor.
Cushing’s syndrome can also cause high blood pressure, bone loss and sometimes type 2 diabetes, per Mayo Clinic.
In addition to weight gain in certain areas, other symptoms may include pink or purple stretch marks on the stomach, hips, thighs, breasts and underarms, as well as acne, slow wound healing, and thin, frail skin that bruises easily.
With Cushing’s syndrome, fat may accumulate in the abdomen, chest, face or upper back (referred to as a “buffalo hump”). (iStock)
Women with Cushing’s syndrome often experience thick, dark hair on the face and body, as well as irregular periods. Symptoms among men can include a lower sex drive, reduced fertility and erectile dysfunction.
Mayo Clinic listed other potential symptoms, including extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, trouble with concentration and memory, headache, sleeplessness, skin darkening and stunted growth in children.
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Those with symptoms should contact their doctor immediately, especially if they are taking steroids to treat health issues like asthma, arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, as these medications can exacerbate the condition.
The Mayo Clinic has reported that the “sooner treatment starts, the better the chances for recovery.”
“I’ve had plastic surgery over the years and I use [Mounjaro],” Schumer stated in a social media post. (George Frey/Bloomberg)
For patients like Schumer, weight loss is typically not the main goal, Balazs noted, but it is a “critical sign” of successful treatment.
“The primary goal is to normalize your high cortisol levels,” he said. “I believe Amy Schumer got treated first for her underlying problem. Once the cortisol is normalized, which is the most important step, there’s a role to use adjunct medications to decrease weight.”
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Among GLP-1s, Mounjaro is an “excellent choice to decrease deep belly fat and increase insulin sensitivity of cells,” Balazs added.
Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.
Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer’s rep requesting comment.
Health
Hundreds quarantined due to measles outbreak in southern state, officials say
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VIRAL OUTBREAK — Measles surge leads to hundreds quarantined in U.S. county, officials say
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The South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed that 254 people are currently in quarantine in the upstate region. (iStock)
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