Washington state resident dies from severe illness after contracting bird flu
A Washington state resident with underlying health conditions has died after being hospitalized with severe bird flu, local health officials announced on Sunday. The individual contracted avian influenza after exposure to infected cattle at a dairy in Yakima County. This marks the first bird flu-related death in the United States this year, following the nation's first recorded fatality in January 2025.
The death comes amid an outbreak in Yakima County, where 33 dairy herds have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza since early October. In coordination with the Washington State Department of Health, local authorities have confirmed three human cases in the area. The third case, also reported on Sunday, involved an individual exposed to infected cattle who did not experience severe illness or require hospitalization, with officials actively monitoring close contacts.
Nationwide, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tallied 72 human bird flu cases since 2024. Public health agencies maintain that the overall risk to the general public remains low, noting that person-to-person spread has never been documented in the United States. Elevated risk remains concentrated among dairy workers and others with close or prolonged contact with infected animals and contaminated settings.
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