A person in Washington state has died from bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm, state health officials reported Sunday, marking the third human death from the virus in the United States since a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza made the unprecedented jump to dairy cows in March 2024. The individual, a Yakima County resident who was said to have had underlying health conditions, was hospitalized before death.
County officials reported that the person was severely ill on Friday. Officials said they would not release further information about the individual, including name, gender, or age, out of respect for the family's privacy.
"Our hearts go out to the individual's family and loved ones during this difficult time," Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, said in a statement. "Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions. While this is a serious and heartbreaking outcome, the risk to the general public remains low."
The jump of the H5 strain of avian influenza from wild migratory birds to dairy cows was first reported in the US in March 2024.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The third death underscores that bird flu can cause severe illness in humans, especially those with underlying conditions, even as general public risk stays low.
- The ongoing spillover from dairy cows highlights the need for surveillance and protective measures for agricultural workers and nearby communities.
- Health officials continue to monitor the situation; further cases could prompt changes in public health guidance.
Background
The highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza strain has circulated among wild birds globally for years. Its spread to dairy cattle in the US beginning in March 2024 was unprecedented, raising concerns about closer human-animal contact. Prior to this case, two other human deaths from the virus had been reported in the US since that jump.
What to Watch
- Whether additional human cases emerge in Washington state or other regions with infected dairy herds.
- How state and federal health agencies adjust testing and prevention protocols for farm workers.
- Any signs of viral mutations that could increase transmissibility among humans.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe headline says this is the third person in the US to die of bird flu since the virus spread to dairy cows.Ars Technica - All content: “Third person dies of bird flu since virus started jumping to livestock.”
- SupportedState health officials reported Sunday that a person in Washington state died from bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm.Ars Technica - All content: “A person in Washington state has died from bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm, state health officials reported Sunday.”
- Partly supportedThe death marked the third human bird flu death in the US since the virus made its jump to dairy cows in March 2024.Ars Technica - All content: “It marks the third human bird flu death in the US since a strain of highly pathogenic (H5) avian influenza (HPAI) made the unprecedented jump from wild, migratory birds to dairy cows, which was first reported in the US in March 2024.”
- SupportedThe person was a Yakima County resident.Ars Technica - All content: “The person who died was a Yakima County resident”
- SupportedThe person was said to have had underlying health conditions.Ars Technica - All content: “was said to have had underlying health conditions”
- SupportedThe person was hospitalized before death.Ars Technica - All content: “On Friday, county officials reported that the person was severely ill and hospitalized.”
- SupportedCounty officials reported that the person was severely ill on Friday.Ars Technica - All content: “On Friday, county officials reported that the person was severely ill”
- SupportedOfficials said they would not release further information, including the person's name, gender or age, out of respect for the family's privacy.Ars Technica - All content: “officials said they would not be releasing further information about the person, including their name, gender, or age, out of respect for the family's privacy.”
- SupportedDave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, said in a statement, “Our hearts go out to the individual's family and loved ones during this difficult time.”Ars Technica - All content: “"Our hearts go out to the individual's family and loved ones during this difficult time," Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, said in a statement.”
- SupportedAtteberry said, “Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions.”Ars Technica - All content: “"Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions."”
- SupportedAtteberry said the risk to the general public remains low.Ars Technica - All content: “"While this is a serious and heartbreaking outcome, the risk to the general public remains low."”
- SupportedThe jump of the H5 strain of avian influenza from wild migratory birds to dairy cows was first reported in the US in March 2024.Ars Technica - All content: “made the unprecedented jump from wild, migratory birds to dairy cows, which was first reported in the US in March 2024.”
