A Grays Harbor County resident has a preliminary positive test for avian influenza, the first possible human case in Washington this year, officials say.

Migrating wild birds are spreading the virus to domesticated flocks, increasing the risk of eventually seeing a human outbreak. Scientists are troubled by the muted federal response.

Researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified a few instances of asymptomatic human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

People have been warned not to touch dead or sick birds after a case of avian flu was confirmed in Nottinghamshire. The disease was found in a wild whooper swan in Shelford, according to Nottinghamshire County Council. Wild birds which migrate to the UK can carry the disease which can lead to cases in poultry and other captive birds.