Health & Science · November 2, 2026
Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle
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A resident of Yakima County, Washington, died on Sunday following hospitalization for a severe H5N1 avian influenza infection. The individual, who had underlying health conditions, was exposed to the virus at a dairy facility with infected cattle. This event represents the first bird flu-related death in the United States in a year. Local health officials in Yakima County reported that 33 dairy herds have tested positive for H5N1 since early October, with three human infections now linked to dairy exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the specific H5N1 strain, while continuing to assess the general public risk as low.
Read the original coverage
- STATTrade
Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle
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Washington state resident dies from ‘severe illness’ after contracting bird flu
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Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle
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Washington State Resident Dies From Bird Flu Following Exposure to Infected Cattle
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Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle
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Reported by multiple outlets
- A Yakima County resident died on Sunday after being hospitalized with bird flu.
- The individual was exposed to the virus at a dairy with infected cattle.
- The person who died had underlying health conditions.
- This is the first U.S. death from bird flu in a year.
- The CDC identified the specific strain as H5N1.
Reported by only some outlets
- Yakima County has reported 33 dairy herds testing positive for H5N1 since early October.
- Two other U.S. bird flu deaths have occurred since 2024: an elderly person in Louisiana in January 2025 (H5N1) and one in Washington in November 2025 (H5N5).
- Three human infections in Yakima County have been linked to dairy exposure.
What the evidence actually shows
The CDC confirmed the individual was infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza following exposure to infected cattle in Yakima County, where 33 dairy herds have recently tested positive and three human cases have been identified.
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