19 publishers · first seen Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:57 UTC · updated Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:23 UTC
A Washington state resident has died from complications of the bird flu, marking the first such death in the U.S. this year. The individual, who had underlying health conditions, was exposed to avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle and had been hospitalized. This is the third death linked to bird flu in the U.S. since it became a public health concern in 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the risk to the general public remains low, with no known person-to-person transmission in the U.S. However, people who work around infected animals are considered to be at higher risk. The CDC has recorded 72 human cases of bird flu across the country since 2024.
Yakima County officials have reported that 33 dairy herds have tested positive for H5N1, and three human infections have been linked to exposure at a dairy. The Yakima Health District is working with the state health department to monitor individuals who may have been in close contact with those infected.
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