Washington Resident Dies of Bird Flu, the First U.S. Death This Year
The Yakima County resident had underlying conditions and was exposed at a dairy with infected cattle. The CDC found no changes in the virus that would help it spread between people.
A Yakima County, Washington, resident who was hospitalized with severe bird flu after exposure at a dairy with infected cattle died Sunday, November 1, the Yakima Health District said; the person had underlying health conditions. It is the first U.S. death from H5 bird flu this year and the third since 2024, after deaths in Louisiana in January 2025 and in Washington in 2025.
The CDC analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus and found no changes that would make it spread more easily or cause more severe illness, a spokesperson told the Associated Press, and the agency still assesses the risk to the general public as low. More than 70 human infections have been reported in the U.S. since early 2024, almost all in people exposed to infected animals, with no known person-to-person spread.
Washington confirmed its first H5N1 infections in dairy cattle in early October; by October 29, the virus had been found in 34 dairy herds, 33 in Yakima County and one in Benton County, according to the state agriculture department. The county has reported three human cases tied to cattle exposure. Health officials advise against drinking raw, unpasteurized milk and recommend protective equipment for people who work with livestock.
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