Third US bird flu death linked to infected dairy farm in Washington

A Washington state resident died from avian influenza after being exposed at an infected dairy farm, state health officials said Sunday. The death is the third confirmed human bird‑flu fatality in the United States since a highly pathogenic H5 strain moved from wild migratory birds to dairy cattle, a jump first reported in March 2024.

The individual, a Yakima County resident, had underlying health conditions that may have increased vulnerability to the infection. County officials noted the person was severely ill and hospitalized on Friday before succumbing to the illness. Officials declined to release the person’s name, gender or age, citing family privacy.

Yakima Health District health officer Dave Atteberry expressed condolences and emphasized that avian influenza can cause severe illness in people with underlying conditions, but added that the overall risk to the general public remains low.