A person in Washington state has died from complications of bird flu, the first such U.S. death in a year. The Yakima County resident, who had underlying health conditions, was exposed to H5N1 avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle. The CDC confirmed H5N1 infection and found no genetic changes suggesting increased transmissibility. 33 dairy herds in the county have tested positive. More than 70 human infections have been reported in the U.S. since 2024, but person-to-person spread has not been detected and public risk remains low.
Washington state fatality
- ▪A person in Washington state has died from complications of bird flu, the first such U.S. death in a year
- ▪The CDC confirmed the person was infected with H5N1 avian influenza
- ▪The person died on Sunday and had been hospitalized, according to county health officials
- ▪The Yakima County resident had previous health conditions and was exposed to avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle
- ▪Yakima County officials did not release additional details about the person who died
Outbreak in dairy herds
- ▪Three human infections have been linked to exposure at a dairy in Yakima County
- ▪The Yakima Health District is working with the state health department to find and monitor close contacts of those infected
- ▪County officials have reported that 33 dairy herds recently have tested positive for H5N1
Previous U.S. bird flu deaths
- ▪The first U.S. bird flu death was announced in January 2025, an elderly person in Louisiana infected with H5N1
- ▪A second death occurred in Washington state in November 2025 from a rarer version called H5N5
- ▪Two other U.S. deaths have been tied to bird flu since it became a national public health concern in 2024
H5N1 transmission background
- ▪More than 70 human infections have been reported in the U.S. since the beginning of 2024, according to the CDC
- ▪H5N1 bird flu has been spreading widely among wild birds, poultry, cows and other animals for several years
- ▪Health concerns escalated in early 2024 when infections spread among U.S. livestock
Public health risk assessment
- ▪There is no known person-to-person spread of H5N1 bird flu and the risk to the general public is low, according to the CDC
- ▪The CDC analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the Washington state death and found no changes that would make it spread more easily or cause more severe illness
Worker safety guidance
- ▪Officials urge people who have contact with sick or dead birds to take precautions including wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry
- ▪People who work on farms with infected animals are considered to be at higher risk of H5N1 exposure
Debatable claims
- ▪Voluntary dairy herd testing leaves farm workers exposed to bird flu
- ▪The CDC low-risk assessment understates the danger of bird flu
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