Yakima County resident dies from H5N1 after exposure to dairy cattle

A resident of Yakima County, Washington, died on Sunday from complications of the bird flu, marking the first U.S. death from the virus in the past year. County health officials confirmed the individual had underlying health conditions and was hospitalized following exposure to avian influenza at a dairy where cattle were infected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the specific strain of the virus as H5N1. This is the third U.S. death linked to bird flu since the pathogen became a national public health concern in 2024. The previous two fatalities involved an elderly person in Louisiana with H5N1 in January 2025 and a Washington state resident with the rarer H5N5 strain in November 2025.

Yakima County officials did not release further personal details about the deceased. The Yakima Health District is currently working with the state health department to identify and monitor close contacts of three human infections linked to exposure at dairies. Officials stated that 33 dairy herds in the region have recently tested positive for H5N1.

Health officials note that H5N1 has been spreading among wild birds, poultry, and livestock for several years. The risk to humans increased in early 2024 when the virus spread to U.S. cattle. The CDC has reported more than 70 human infections in the United States since the start of 2024. The agency stated that there is no known person-to-person spread and that the risk to the general public remains low.

A CDC spokesperson said on Monday that genetic analysis of the virus from the deceased Washington resident showed no changes that would facilitate easier transmission or cause more severe illness. This finding aligns with the agency's ongoing assessment of the virus's behavior in human hosts.

Authorities continue to advise people who handle sick or dead birds to use respiratory and eye protection and gloves. Workers on farms are considered to be at higher risk due to frequent contact with animals. The health department is monitoring the situation as the virus persists in the environment.