Washington resident dies from H5N1 after dairy exposure

A resident of Yakima County, Washington, died on Sunday from complications of avian influenza.

County health officials confirmed the death, marking the first U.S. fatality from bird flu in the past year. The individual had preexisting health conditions and was hospitalized after being exposed to the virus at a dairy farm with infected cattle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the specific strain as H5N1.

Yakima County officials reported that 33 dairy herds recently tested positive for H5N1. They stated that three human infections have been linked to exposure at dairy facilities. The Yakima Health District is currently working with the state health department to identify close contacts of those infected individuals. The team is monitoring these contacts for symptoms of the disease.

The H5N1 strain has circulated among wild birds, poultry, and livestock for several years. Health officials noted that the virus's presence in the environment increases the likelihood of human exposure. More than 70 human cases have been reported in the United States since early 2024. The CDC maintains that the risk to the general public remains low and that there is no known spread from person to person.

This death follows two other U.S. fatalities tied to bird flu since the virus became a national concern in 2024. An elderly person in Louisiana died in January 2025 from H5N1. A second person in Washington state died in November 2025 from the rarer H5N5 variant.

A CDC spokesperson said on Monday that the agency analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the deceased Washington resident. The analysis found no changes that would make the virus spread more easily or cause more severe illness. Officials continue to advise people who handle sick or dead birds to use respiratory protection, eye protection, and gloves. Workers on farms are considered at higher risk for infection.