A person has died from bird flu in Washington state, marking the first suspected death from the virus in the United States in 2026.
The Yakima County resident contracted the infection through direct contact with infected dairy cows. The patient was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. According to local health officials, the individual also had underlying medical conditions.
So far this year, three people have been infected with bird flu in Washington state. All three patients were dairy farm workers who had direct exposure to infected livestock.
Epidemiologists assess that the risk of infection to the general public remains low, as there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission. However, experts warn of the risk of mutation, which could potentially enable the virus to spread between people in the future.
As a preventive measure, experts are urging the public to get vaccinated against seasonal flu.
