Washington State Resident Dies from H5N1 Bird Flu, First U.S. Fatality in a Year
A Yakima County resident infected with H5N1 avian influenza died after exposure at a dairy, marking the first U.S. bird-flu death since 2024.
A resident of Yakima County, Washington, died from complications of H5N1 avian influenza after being exposed to infected cattle at a dairy, county health officials said on Sunday. The individual, who had pre-existing health conditions, was hospitalized before succumbing to the illness.
The death is the first U.S. bird-flu fatality recorded in a year. Two other deaths have been linked to avian influenza since the virus became a national public-health concern in 2024: an elderly person in Louisiana in January 2025 and a Washington resident in November 2025 who contracted the rarer H5N5 strain.
The CDC confirmed the recent case involved H5N1 and noted that 33 dairy herds in the region have tested positive for the virus. Three human infections have been tied to dairy exposure, and the Yakima Health District is collaborating with state health authorities to identify and monitor close contacts for symptoms.
Since early 2024, more than 70 human H5N1 infections have been reported nationwide, though the CDC says there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the overall risk to the public remains low. A CDC spokesperson said genetic analysis of the virus from the deceased showed no mutations that would increase transmissibility or severity.
Officials continue to advise individuals handling sick or dead birds, as well as farm workers, to use respiratory protection, eye protection and gloves to reduce exposure risk.