First U.S. Bird Flu Death of 2026 Linked to Dairy Cattle Exposure

A Washington state resident is the first person to die of the bird flu this year in the U.S. Read on for the details about how the individual contracted the virus, as well as what officials say is the overall risk to the public.

Washington Resident Dies of Bird Flu

The Yakima Health District confirmed this week that a person has died from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), otherwise known as the bird flu. The victim passed away on Sunday, November 1, after being hospitalized for symptoms following exposure at a dairy with infected cattle. Public health officials said that the patient had underlying health conditions. They also noted that the overall risk to the general public remains low.

“Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” said Dr. Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District. The statement went on to say that "Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions. While this is a serious and heartbreaking outcome, the risk to the general public remains low. We continue to work closely with our public health partners to monitor the situation and protect the health of our community.”

State officials said that out of respect for the family, they will not release any additional information about the victim, including details about their name, age, or gender. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson offered his sympathy to the family members, saying in a statement, “I’m being briefed on this situation, and my team is in close coordination with public health and agriculture officials. Workers at affected farms are advised to take safety precautions, but the risk to the public remains low.”

Yakima health officials also recently announced that they have confirmed a third human case of the bird flu. This individual contracted the virus after exposure to infected dairy cattle. Fortunately, this patient has not experienced severe illness and is recovering at home.

Washington has been dealing with an outbreak of the virus in its dairy herds. Local officials have reported 33 dairy herds infected with the virus since October 8. The infected herds were identified through milk testing by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Atteberry said that public health workers in Yakima County contacted the impacted farmers and enrolled them in a text-based health screening tool that identifies early symptoms. The common symptoms include fever, cough, or red eyes. According to Atteberry, “We’re throwing a large net so that we capture everybody that potentially could be getting exposed, and then we’re able to focus our attention on those individuals that are exposed, and then we get them treated."

Farm workers who test positive for the virus are given antiviral medication. The goal of this medication is to both treat the symptoms and lower the viral load to reduce the odds that it is passed on to others.

About the Bird Flu

Bird flu is caused by a virus that can trigger serious illness leading to death in birds and mammals. The H5 strain has nine different subtypes, including the most commonly known H5N1. This strain has been blamed for the most recent infections and outbreaks across the U.S.

While the general public is not at high risk of coming down with the bird flu, those who work with birds, poultry, or cows should take precautions. Health officials also warn that people with exposure to contaminated products, such as raw milk, are at a higher risk.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people at a greater risk avoid touching sick or dead animals. Agricultural workers should wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, eye protection, and respiratory masks.

It is also important to not eat undercooked food, including beef, poultry, and eggs. These foods should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees in order to kill the virus and other types of bacteria. Raw milk and dairy products can also harbor the virus.

The CDC said that there have been no documented cases of human-to-human transmission of the bird flu in the U.S.

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