A Washington state resident died on Sunday after contracting H5N1 bird flu from exposure to infected dairy cattle, marking the first U.S. death from the virus in over a year and the third confirmed fatality since 2024, health officials confirmed Monday.
The Yakima County Health District reported that the individual, who had pre-existing health conditions, was hospitalized before dying. The case is the third human infection in Yakima County linked to dairy farm exposure, with 33 dairy herds in the county testing positive for H5N1 as of October 29, according to local health dashboards. An additional infected herd has been reported in neighboring Benton County, per Washington State Department of Agriculture data.
Public health response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated the risk to the general public remains low, as there is no known person-to-person transmission of the virus. The agency analyzed the genetic sequence of the strain and found no evidence it had mutated to spread more easily or cause more severe illness. Health officials are monitoring close contacts of the deceased and the two other confirmed cases in Yakima County, one of whom was hospitalized and the other asymptomatic.
Outbreak details and tracking discrepancies
While Yakima County reports three human cases, the Washington State Department of Health’s online dashboard lists one confirmed dairy-associated case in 2026, suggesting potential discrepancies in real-time reporting. The state’s tracker shows 39 infected herds in Yakima County and one in Benton County as of October 30, though county dashboards may lag in updates. Infected herds are quarantined and subject to biosecurity measures, with transmission among cattle occurring through infected animals, contaminated milk, equipment, or clothing.
Context and historical cases
The CDC declared avian flu a national public health concern in 2024, with more than 70 human infections reported since then. Prior to this case, the most recent U.S. death was in November 2025 (H5N5 strain) and January 2025 (H5N1), both in Washington. The first confirmed U.S. case in 2024 involved a Louisiana resident who died from H5N1. Dairy and poultry workers remain at higher risk due to prolonged exposure to infected animals or environments.
Guidance for high-risk groups
Health officials advise dairy workers and others with close contact to infected cattle to monitor for symptoms and contact healthcare providers if illness develops. Symptoms of avian flu in humans may include fever, cough, sore throat, or conjunctivitis, with severe cases leading to pneumonia or respiratory failure.
The CDC continues to assess the situation, emphasizing that while the risk to the public is low, vigilance is warranted given the ongoing outbreaks in livestock.