NEW YORK — A person has died in Washington state from complications related to avian flu, the first such death in the United States in a year.
The Yakima County resident, who had previous health problems, was exposed to avian flu at a dairy with infected cattle and was hospitalized. The person died Sunday, county health officials said.
Two more deaths in the United States have been linked to avian flu since it became a national public health problem in 2024. The first, announced in January 2025, involved an elderly person. in Louisiana which had a version of bird flu known as H5N1. The other, in Washington state, died in November 2025 from a rarer version called H5N5.
Yakima County officials have not released any additional details about the recently deceased person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the person was infected with H5N1.
County officials reported that 33 dairy herds recently tested positive for H5N1.
They say three human infections have been linked to exposure at a dairy and that the Yakima Health District is working with the state health department to find people who have been in close contact with those people and monitor their symptoms.
H5N1 bird flu has spread widely among wild birds, poultry, cows and other animals for several years. Health concerns intensified in early 2024 as infections spread among U.S. livestock. Its presence in the environment increases the chances that people will be exposed and potentially caught, officials said.
More than 70 human infections have been reported in the United States since the start of 2024, according to the CDC. But there is no known human-to-human spread and the risk to the general public is low. the agency says.
The agency analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the person who died in Washington and found no changes that could make it easier to spread the virus or cause more severe illness, a CDC spokesperson said Monday.
Authorities continue to urge people who come into 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 are considered to be at higher risk.
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