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First US bird flu death of 2026 reported in Washington; risk to public is low
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- A person in Yakima County, Washington, who contracted bird flu from infected dairy cows has died, marking the first US death from avian influenza complications in 2026 and the third since February 2024.
- Since 2024, over 70 bird flu cases have been recorded in the US, mostly among farm workers exposed to infected cattle or poultry, with infections typically being mild and not spreading between humans.
- No human-to-human transmission of bird flu has been documented in the US, and health officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low.
- Yakima County is monitoring contacts of the deceased individual to prevent further spread, and a third person exposed to infected cattle has tested positive with mild symptoms.
- Since October 8, 33 dairy herds in Washington have been infected with the H5N1 virus, prompting state officials to recommend protective measures and symptom reporting for dairy workers.
