Infectious disease
Washington resident dies of H5N1 after exposure to infected cattle
The CDC identified the virus as H5N1, and county officials said the resident had underlying health conditions and was hospitalized.
A Yakima County, Washington, resident has died after contracting bird flu following exposure to infected cattle at a dairy, local health officials said. The resident had underlying health conditions and was hospitalized before dying on Sunday. The CDC identified the infection as H5N1. Officials have not released the person’s identity.
The Associated Press reported this was the first U.S. death from bird flu complications in a year. Yakima County officials said 33 dairy herds had tested positive for H5N1 and three human infections had been linked to dairy exposure. The CDC says there is no known person-to-person spread and the risk to the general public is low. A CDC spokesperson said analysis of the virus’s genetic sequence found no changes that would make it spread more easily or cause more severe illness. County and state health officials are working to identify close contacts and monitor them for symptoms.
Reporting on this story
- MedPage Today Washington State Resident Dies From Bird Flu Following Exposure to Infected Cattle (opens in a new tab)
- The Guardian Washington state resident dies from ‘severe illness’ after contracting bird flu (opens in a new tab)
- Healio Washington resident first to die of bird flu in US this year (opens in a new tab)
- STAT Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle (opens in a new tab)
- ABC News Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle (opens in a new tab)
