Washington state resident dies following bird flu exposure
Washington state resident dies from bird flu after contact with infected dairy cattle.
Avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles (yellow), grown in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells (blue). NIAID (Photo via STAT)
A resident of Yakima County has died from complications related to the H5N1 bird flu virus after being exposed to infected cattle at a dairy. The death, announced by local health officials on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, marks the first fatality from the virus in the United States in one year.
The individual, whose identity has not been released, had underlying health conditions. This case represents the third U.S. death linked to bird flu since the virus became a national public health concern in 2024. More than 70 human infections have been reported across the country during this period.
Dr. Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, stated that while the outcome is serious, the risk to the general public remains low. He noted that the agency is working with state partners to conduct contact tracing and monitor individuals who had close contact with the infected person.
In addition to this fatality, a third human case of bird flu has been identified in Yakima County, though that individual did not experience severe illness. Local authorities report that 33 dairy herds in the county have recently tested positive for the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the deceased patient and found no mutations that would increase its ability to spread or cause more severe illness. Officials emphasized there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Governor Bob Ferguson expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and confirmed that his office is coordinating with public health and agriculture agencies. The Yakima Health District plans to release updates regarding the situation on its website every Monday and Thursday at 2 p.m.