A Yakima County resident hospitalized with severe bird flu illness died Nov. 1 after exposure at a dairy with infected cattle, the Yakima Health District said.
The district’s announcement described the death as resulting from complications of avian influenza. The district said the resident had underlying health conditions. Washington’s Department of Health shared the announcement on its official Facebook page.
Public risk remains low, health officials say
Health officials continue to assess the risk to the general public as low. DOH’s current bird flu information says there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission in Washington or elsewhere in the United States.
People who work with infected cattle or poultry, or their environments, face greater exposure risks. DOH advises people to avoid sick or dead animals and follow its protective-equipment guidance when handling potentially infected animals.
Anyone concerned about a possible exposure should contact a health-care provider or local health department and explain the animal contact.
For practical information about pasteurized milk, pets, backyard flocks and reporting unusual animal illness, see our Washington dairy bird-flu guide.
Sources: Yakima Health District’s Nov. 1 announcement, shared by Washington DOH; DOH’s current situation and prevention guidance. Checked Nov. 1, 2026.
