Third person dies of bird flu since virus started jumping to livestock
The threat is still considered to be low, but the virus continues to spread.
The threat is still considered to be low, but the virus continues to spread.
The short version
- A person in Washington state has died from bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm, state health officials reported Sunday .
- It marks the third human bird flu death in the US since a strain of highly pathogenic (H5) avian influenza (HPAI) made the unprecedented jump from wild, migratory birds to dairy cows, which was first reported in the US in March 2024 .
- The person who died was a Yakima County resident and was said to have had underlying health conditions, which could have made the person more vulnerable to the infection.
What happened
On Friday, county officials reported that the person was severely ill and hospitalized . In the subsequent announcement of the person’s death, officials said they would not be releasing further information about the person, including their name, gender, or age, out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Why it matters
“Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, said in a statement.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.