A Yakima County resident has died after contracting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) following exposure to an infected dairy farm in Washington state, health authorities announced Sunday. The death is the third in the United States since the H5 strain of avian influenza made its unprecedented jump from wild migratory birds to dairy cattle in March 2024.
The person had underlying health conditions that may have increased their vulnerability to severe illness. County officials said Friday that the resident had been hospitalized in serious condition. In announcing the death, authorities declined to release the person’s name, gender, or age out of respect for the family’s privacy.
“Our hearts go out to the patient’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Yakima Health District Health Officer Dave Atteberry said in a statement. “Bird influenza can cause severe illness, especially in people with underlying health conditions. While this is a serious and heartbreaking outcome, the risk to the general public remains low.”
Avian flu remains a persistent threat
Health authorities announced the death on Sunday. Washington has recorded three human cases of bird flu since the virus was reported in dairy cattle in the state in 2014, as of October 8. All three cases occurred in Yakima County.
Alongside the death announcement, officials reported a third human case. Like the first case, this person had contact with an infected dairy herd in the county. Neither of those two individuals experienced serious symptoms or required hospitalization.
County officials previously reported that the resident had been hospitalized with serious illness.
Source: arstechnica.com