Third person dies of bird flu since virus started jumping to livestock
The threat is still considered to be low, but the virus continues to spread.
A third fatality from bird flu has been reported in the United States since the virus began spreading to livestock, according to state health officials. The individual, a resident of Yakima County, succumbed to the illness after exposure at an infected dairy farm. This marks the third human death in the country related to a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5) strain that recently jumped from wild, migratory birds to dairy cows, a development initially detected in the US in March 2024.
The deceased person had pre-existing health issues, which may have increased their susceptibility to the infection. Upon learning of the individual's severe condition and impending death, county health officials stated that they would not disclose any additional details about the victim, including their name, gender, or age, in deference to the family's privacy.
The Yakima Health District's health officer, Dave Atteberry, expressed condolences to the family, emphasizing that while avian influenza can lead to serious illness, especially in individuals with underlying health conditions, the risk to the general population remains minimal.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
