Washington state officials said Sunday that a resident died of bird flu, marking the first death in the United States from the virus this year.
Officials said a Yakima County resident died after being exposed to the avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle. The individual had underlying health conditions, according to the Yakima Health District. It is the third recorded death credited to H5 bird flu in U.S. history.
“Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Dr. Dave Atteberry, the district’s health officer, said in a statement. “Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions.”
Bird flu is rare for humans to contract, with roughly 70 cases reported in the U.S. since 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The other two deaths in the U.S. from bird flu occurred in January 2025 and November of that year. There has been no human-to-human transmission of the virus documented in the U.S., as it has so far spread only between infected animals and humans.
A major bird flu outbreak began sweeping the country in 2022, when the virus ripped through farms and chicken yards. Atteberry said Sunday that the risk to the general public remains low, after the Yakima Health District reported a second local resident had been exposed to infected dairy cattle but had not experienced severe symptoms.
“While this is a serious and heartbreaking outcome, the risk to the general public remains low,” he said. “We continue to work closely with our public health partners to monitor the situation and protect the health of our community.”
Gov. Bob Ferguson (D-WA) also weighed in, saying that workers at affected farms in the area are being advised to take safety precautions.
THE RACE FOR A LYME DISEASE VACCINE
“I’m being briefed on this situation, and my team is in close coordination with public health and agriculture officials,” the governor said. “The risk to the public remains low.”
Yakima County officials and federal veterinary personnel first confirmed bird flu at two dairy farms in the county in October, marking the first recorded cases of the virus in dairy cattle in Washington state.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
