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MapYakima County, Washington, Reports Third Bird Flu Death After Exposure To Infected Dairy Cattle
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Yakima County resident died after exposure to infected dairy cattle from avian influenza. Yakima Health District says the public risk remains low.
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Yakima death and cases
A person in Yakima County, Washington, died after exposure to infected dairy cattle, marking the third human bird flu death in the US since a strain of highly pathogenic (H5) avian influenza (HPAI) made the jump from wild, migratory birds to dairy cows. The Yakima Health District said the person was hospitalized and had underlying health conditions, and officials withheld the person’s name, age and gender. Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, said, "Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions."
Health officials reported that three people have tested positive for bird flu in Washington since the virus was reported in dairy cattle in the state on October 8, and all three have been in Yakima County. Officials also reported that the third case, like the first case, involved exposure to an infected dairy herd in the county, and both people reportedly had not experienced severe illness nor been hospitalized.
Risk, monitoring, and PPE
Yakima County health officials said close contacts of all three patients are being monitored, and they reported there is no suggestion of human-to-human transmission. Dave Atteberry said in a press release, "We continue to work closely with our public health partners to monitor the situation and protect the health of our community," and the risk to the general public remains low. Health officials recommended dairy workers wear disposable coveralls and hair coverings, gloves, masks, safety goggles, and rubber boots or boot coverings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 72 cases of humans sickened by bird flu since February 2024, and the CDC recorded 42 cases where the person was exposed to infected dairy cattle. Yakima County officials said the third confirmed case-patient has not experienced severe illness or been hospitalized, and the county reported its nation’s first human H5N1 case of the year in mid-October.
Virus spread in cattle
Washington confirmed its first detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in cattle on October 8, at two Yakima County dairies, and the outbreak expanded quickly to 33 infected herds in Yakima County.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture reported that, as of Thursday, 33 dairy herds in Yakima County and one in Benton County have tested positive, and the dairies have not been identified publicly.
USDA-APHIS confirmed six more cases on Oct. 30, bringing to 40 the number of infected herds in Washington, the fifth-most among all states.
Colorado State Veterinarian Maggie Baldwin, DVM, said, "This detection underscores the importance of our routine bulk milk tank testing to keep our herds healthy and our food supply secure," after Colorado confirmed H5N1 at a Weld County dairy.
Health officials said pasteurized milk remains safe to drink, while they urged precautions including wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry.