Yakima County Resident Dies from Avian Influenza After Dairy Exposure

A resident of Yakima County died on Sunday from complications of avian influenza, according to a release from the Yakima Health District. The individual had underlying health conditions and had been exposed to infected cattle at a local dairy, but the district did not disclose the person's name, gender or age to protect family privacy.

Health officials emphasized that the overall risk of avian influenza to the general public remains low. They noted that people with close or prolonged contact with infected animals, such as dairy workers, are at higher risk, while human-to-human transmission is "extremely rare" and has never been documented in the United States.

The district is monitoring individuals who had close contact with the deceased for symptoms and continues to work with public health partners to identify and notify others who may have been exposed.

In a separate case, the district confirmed a third human infection linked to the same dairy. The patient has not experienced severe illness and has not required hospitalization.

Governor Bob Ferguson said he had been briefed on the situation and that his administration is coordinating with public health and agriculture officials. He added that workers at affected farms are being advised to follow safety precautions, while the risk to the broader public stays low.