Washington man dies from H5N1 after dairy exposure

One person in Washington state died from complications of the bird flu on Sunday, county health officials said. The death is the first in the United States in a year linked to avian influenza.

The deceased was a resident of Yakima County who had preexisting health conditions. The individual was hospitalized after being exposed to the virus at a dairy where cattle tested positive for the infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the strain as H5N1. A CDC spokesperson stated that the agency analyzed the genetic sequence of the virus from the patient. The analysis found no changes that would make the virus spread more easily or cause more severe illness.

This is the third U.S. death tied to bird flu since the disease became a national public health concern in 2024. The first death was announced in January 2025 and involved an elderly person in Louisiana infected with H5N1. The second occurred in November 2025 in Washington state, where a person died from the rarer H5N5 strain.

Yakima County officials reported that 33 dairy herds recently tested positive for H5N1. Three human infections have been linked to exposure at a dairy. The Yakima Health District is working with the state health department to identify people in close contact with those infected. Health workers are monitoring these contacts for symptoms.

The CDC reported more than 70 human infections in the U.S. since the beginning of 2024. The agency says there is no known person-to-person spread. Officials characterize the risk to the general public as low, though the virus has spread widely among wild birds, poultry, and cows for several years.

Health officials continue to urge people who handle sick or dead birds to take precautions. Recommendations include wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry. Workers on farms are considered at higher risk for exposure.