A Yakima County, Washington, resident who caught bird flu at a dairy with infected cattle has died, the first U.S. death from the virus in a year, county health officials said.
The person had underlying health conditions and was hospitalized with severe illness before dying Sunday. Officials have not released the patient's identity or other details.
The Yakima health district offers its heartfelt condolences to the individual’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time
Yakima Health District
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the strain as H5N1. A CDC spokesperson said Monday that genetic sequencing of the virus turned up no changes that would help it spread more easily or make illness more severe.
Outbreak in Yakima dairy herds
The death follows a run of infections on local dairies. Since early October, 33 herds in Yakima County have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, county officials said.
Three human cases have now been confirmed in the county, all linked to dairy exposure. The third, announced Sunday, involved a person who did not become severely ill or need hospital care.
The Yakima Health District and the Washington State Department of Health are tracking down people who had close contact with the infected individuals so they can be monitored for symptoms.
Risk to the public
County officials said the general public faces low risk, while dairy workers and others with close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments face greater danger. They added that spread between people has never been documented in the United States.
Nationwide, the CDC has logged 72 human bird flu cases since 2024 and says there is no known person-to-person transmission.
Earlier deaths
Two earlier U.S. deaths have been linked to bird flu. An elderly Louisiana resident infected with H5N1 was the first, with the death announced in January 2025. Another Washington state resident died in November 2025 from H5N5, a less common form.
H5N1 has circulated among wild birds, poultry, cows and other animals for years, and concern grew in early 2024 when it began spreading in U.S. livestock. Officials advise anyone handling poultry or touching sick or dead birds to wear gloves along with eye and respiratory protection.
