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Washington resident is third US bird flu death since 2024
A Yakima County resident in Washington state has died after contracting bird flu following exposure at an infected dairy farm. It is the third human death in the US since H5 avian influenza began spreading from wild birds to dairy cattle in 2024; officials say the risk to the general public remains low.
The person had underlying health conditions and was hospitalised after becoming severely ill. Washington has reported three human cases, all in Yakima County, and 40 detections in dairy cows since 8 October, including 33 affected herds in the county. More than 70 human cases have been detected in the US since 2024, with no reported human-to-human transmission.
In short
- A Washington resident has died after exposure to bird flu at a dairy farm.
- It is the third US bird flu death since 2024.
- Officials say the risk to the public remains low.
Explained simply
Bird flu is an infection caused by influenza viruses that mainly affect birds. In 2024, a strain known as H5 began spreading from wild birds to dairy cattle in the United States, leading to infections among people who had contact with infected animals.
US health officials have reported more than 70 human cases since the outbreak began, mostly linked to exposure to infected animals. No human-to-human spread has been reported, and officials say the risk to the general public remains low; people who work with poultry or cattle can face greater exposure.
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Originally published by Ars Technica as “Third person dies of bird flu since virus started jumping to livestock”.