Washington resident dies of bird flu after dairy farm exposure

The short version

• Washington state health officials reported that a Yakima County resident died of bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm.[Ars Technica]
• The death is the third U.S. human bird flu death since the strain jumped from wild birds to dairy cows in March 2024.[Ars Technica]
• Officials say the risk to the general public remains low, while 33 Yakima County dairy herds have tested positive since early October.[Ars Technica · The Guardian]
• The CDC has recorded 72 human bird flu cases nationwide since 2024, according to agency data.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• A Washington state resident from Yakima County died of bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm.[Ars Technica · The Guardian]
• The death is the third human bird flu death in the US since H5 avian influenza was first reported in dairy cows in March 2024.[Ars Technica]
• The person who died had underlying health conditions.[Ars Technica]
• Officials say the risk to the general public remains low.[Ars Technica]
• Since early October, 33 dairy herds in Yakima County have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.[The Guardian]
• The CDC has recorded 72 human bird flu cases across the US since 2024.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Third person dies of bird flu since virus started jumping to livestockArs Technica
• Washington state resident dies from ‘severe illness’ after contracting bird fluThe Guardian - World