U.S. records 1st human bird flu death since last year
U.S. health officials have confirmed the first human death from bird flu in the country since 2025, involving a Yakima County resident exposed to infected dairy cattle. While the CDC notes the risk to the general public remains low, the case underscores the ongoing spread of H5N1 among livestock.
Why it matters
The transmission of avian influenza from livestock to humans remains a significant public health monitoring priority to prevent potential pandemic outbreaks.
The Yakima County resident, who had previous health conditions, was exposed to avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle and had been hospitalized, county health officials announced on Sunday.
Two other U.S. deaths have been tied to bird flu since it became a national public health concern in 2024. The first, announced in January 2025, was an elderly person in Louisiana who 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 did not release any additional details about the person who recently died. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the person was infected with H5N1.
County officials have reported that 33 dairy herds have recently tested positive for H5N1.
Headlinne story · 4 newsrooms
Washington Resident Dies From Bird Flu After Dairy Farm Exposure
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