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 death has been reported in the United States from bird flu, contracted by a person in Washington state who came into contact with the virus at an infected dairy farm. This marks the third human fatality in the country since the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was first detected in dairy cows in March 2024.
The individual who succumbed to the illness was a resident of Yakima County, with underlying health conditions that may have made them more susceptible to the infection. The person was reported to be severely ill and admitted to a hospital on Friday, with officials declining to disclose further details about the individual, including their name, gender, or age, due to respect for their family's privacy.
In a statement, Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, expressed condolences to the family, stating that while the risk to the general public remains low, avian influenza can cause severe illness, especially among those with pre-existing health issues.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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