Home · Health · Nov 2 archive
Washington Resident Dies from Bird Flu After Dairy Farm Exposure
· Confirmed
In Short: The first human infection in Washington was reported in January 2025, followed by a second death in November 2025, both linked to exposure to infected dairy cattle.
County health officials announced Sunday that a Yakima County resident with underlying health conditions died from bird flu after being exposed to infected cattle at a dairy farm.
This marks the first death from bird flu in the United States this year, according to Washington state officials.
Since October 8, Washington state has recorded 40 detections of bird flu in dairy cows, with the USDA reporting 134 cases of bird flu in cattle across the country.
Health officials have confirmed three human infections in Yakima County, all linked to dairy cattle exposure.
The CDC has recorded 73 human bird flu infections caused by any H5 bird flu strain since the start of 2024.
Dairy employees and people with close or prolonged contact with infected animals or environments contaminated with the virus face a higher infection risk.
The virus has been spreading among wild birds, poultry, and livestock for several years, with the H5N1 strain first detected in the US in 2022.
Public health specialists say the death is a reminder that bird flu is still present and circulating, and that the virus continues to spread in dairy cows.
The exact strain of bird flu that caused the death has not been specified in the reports.
The risk to the general public remains low, according to health officials.
There is mild concern about bird flu cases in humans being confirmed as seasonal influenza starts to spread early in several parts of the country.
What's confirmed
- A person in Washington state has died from bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm, state health officials reported Sunday.
- In all, three people have tested positive for bird flu in Washington since the virus was reported in dairy cattle in the state on October 8.
- County health officials announced Sunday that the Yakima County resident had previous health conditions and was exposed to avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle.
- A person in Washington state has died from complications of bird flu, marking the first such U.S.
- The virus has been spreading among wild birds, poultry and livestock for several years.
- Read more at © DairyNews.today ' + location.href + ' The health district also announced a third confirmed human infection in Yakima County, likewise linked to dairy cattle.
- The wildlife department urged people to report sick or dead birds promptly without handling or relocating them.
- The first, announced in January 2025, was an elderly person in Louisiana who had a version of bird flu known as H5N1.
- They say three human infections have been linked to exposure at a dairy, and that the Yakima Health District is working with the state health department to find people who were in close contact with those people and monitor them for symptoms.
- Individual, who also had underlying conditions, was hospitalized after being exposed to avian influenza Individual, who also had underlying conditions, was hospitalized after being exposed to avian influenza A Washington state resident has died after being hospitalized with “severe illness” after contracting bird flu, local health officials said on Sunday.
- Contact with contaminated surroundings also puts people at greater risk.
- Officials also reported that the third case, like the first case, involved exposure to an infected dairy herd in the county, and both people reportedly had not experienced severe illness nor been hospitalized.
What's still developing
- Wildlife officials noted that infections commonly extend across Washington during the autumn movement of migratory birds.
- Europe is paying for the Iran war twice: in its import bill, and in its exposure to Washington's domestic politics.
- Published: 11:42 EDT, 2 November 2026 | Updated: 12:03 EDT, 2 November 2026 An individual from Washington has become the third American to die from bird flu complications, health officials have announced.
- CDC data shows 42 cases have been linked to dairy cow exposure, 24 to poultry farms and culling, three to 'other animal exposure' and three to unknown sources.
- Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
- The US Department of Agriculture has detected bird flu in 268 wild bird samples in the last 30 days.
- There were previously only two deaths tied to bird flu and 72 cases since the outbreak began in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight.
- Increasing clouds with periods of showers after midnight.
- Partly cloudy skies early giving way to a few showers after midnight.
- Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight.
- Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight.