Washington resident dies after contracting H5N1 bird flu from infected dairy cattle
Health officials confirmed that a Yakima County resident with pre-existing conditions died from avian influenza after exposure to infected dairy cows, while a second exposed person remains asymptomatic.
A Yakima County, Washington, resident with underlying medical conditions died from complications of H5N1 avian influenza after exposure to infected dairy cattle at a local farm, public health officials said. The individual was hospitalized with severe illness before passing away; local authorities did not release the person's name, age or gender for privacy reasons.
"Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions," said Dr. Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District. "While this is a serious outcome, the risk to the general public remains low."
A third person in the same county, also exposed to infected dairy cattle, has not required hospitalization and has not shown severe symptoms. Health teams are tracing and monitoring close contacts of both cases.
The health district warned that dairy workers and others with close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments are at higher risk and should seek medical care if symptoms develop.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that avian influenza primarily spreads among wild birds and domestic poultry, but the H5N1 strain has recently infected mammals such as dairy cows. Person-to-person transmission in the United States remains extremely rare.
Officials advise agricultural workers, veterinarians and others with close animal contact to use personal protective equipment, including N95 respirators, eye protection and fluid-resistant gloves, and to avoid handling sick or dead birds and livestock. Commercial pasteurized milk and properly cooked poultry are considered safe.