Feb 14 (Reuters) - The Wyoming Department of Health said

on Friday it has identified its first human case of H5N1 bird

flu in the region, making it the third confirmed instance of

hospitalization related to the infection in the United States.

"The woman is hospitalized in another state, has health

conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness, and

was likely exposed to the virus through direct contact with an

infected poultry flock at her home," Wyoming's state health

officer Alexia Harrist said.

Bird flu has infected nearly 70 people in the United States,

with one death, since last April. Most of those infections have

been among farm workers exposed to infected poultry or cows.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

however, has said the risk of infection to the general public is

low.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave

a conditional approval to animal healthcare company Zoetis ( ZTS )

to use its bird flu vaccine in poultry.