A Washington State resident has died from bird flu, according to the Yakima health district, and the virus is circulating in dairy cattle in Yakima County right now. For most people the risk stays low, but if you work around cows, poultry or waterfowl, your situation is different. Here is what the reports say, what is still unknown, and which treatment and prevention options exist, so you can make the right call with your clinician.
What happened in Washington?
The Yakima health district’s news release, as reported in news coverage of the death, says the person was exposed to avian influenza at a Yakima County dairy with infected cattle. The person was hospitalized with what the release called “severe illness” and died. The person had underlying health conditions. The identity had not been released at the time of the report, and this page will not guess at it.
The coverage gives the death date only as a Sunday. For the exact date, check the Yakima health district’s news release directly. Officials are working with public health partners to contact close contacts of the county’s third confirmed human case, who was not hospitalized, so they can watch for symptoms.
The Associated Press, as cited in that coverage, says this is the first person in the United States to die from complications of bird flu this year. The CDC announced an earlier US death from bird flu complications in January 2025. So this is the first US bird flu death of the year the article was published, not the first US death ever.
Is there bird flu in Washington State right now?
Yes. Most of the confusion in the news comes from mixing up animal numbers and human numbers, so here they are separately.
- Animals: County officials report that since early October, 33 dairy herds in Yakima County have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.
- People: The Yakima health district has recorded three confirmed human cases in the county. The coverage also cites CDC data showing 72 human bird flu cases across the country since 2024.
County officials say the risk to the general public remains low. They say people at greater risk are dairy workers and others who have close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. The district also says human-to-human spread is “extremely rare and has never been documented in the United States.”
How deadly is bird flu in humans?
The Cleveland Clinic bird flu guide, last updated December 5, 2024, says the mortality rate for bird flu in humans is high, and that historically about half of all people with known infections have died. The same guide says most recent cases in the U.S. have been mild. Both statements are accurate. The “about half” figure is a historical one and does not describe the typical recent US case.
Bird flu can be severe, though. The guide lists complications including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, sepsis, brain swelling and respiratory failure. It also says that if you have symptoms of severe illness, you should go to the nearest emergency room. Those signs include difficulty breathing, fever over 103°F (40°C), confusion or altered mental state, severe fatigue or inability to wake up, severe headache, and stiff neck.
Symptoms in people can include pink eye, fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose, and shortness of breath. For a fuller list, read our bird flu symptoms guide.
Has any human ever died from bird flu?
Yes. The Washington death described above is one, and the CDC announced an earlier US death from bird flu complications in January 2025, according to the coverage. Globally, the Cleveland Clinic guide’s historical figure of about half of known infections dying shows how severe some past outbreaks have been.
How does bird flu spread to people?
According to the Cleveland Clinic guide, people usually get bird flu through contact with an infected animal’s body fluids, such as saliva, milk, respiratory droplets or feces. You can breathe in the virus from small dust particles in animal habitats, or get it into your eyes, nose or mouth after touching those fluids. The guide says bird flu is very rarely contagious from person to person, and that in almost all cases so far, human infections came from contact with infected animals.
Can I get bird flu from eating chicken or eggs?
The Cleveland Clinic guide says you don’t get bird flu from eating properly cooked poultry or eggs, or from drinking pasteurized milk. Flocks known to carry avian flu are taken out of the human food supply. The guide advises that you don’t touch or drink unpasteurized milk.
Is bird flu expected to be a problem in the US in 2026?
The Cleveland Clinic guide describes bird flu as a problem for wildlife health, the food supply and human health, and notes ongoing human infections in the US since 2024. No one can say from these numbers how the rest of 2026 will go. For national case counts and updates, check the CDC’s bird flu pages directly.
Which treatment options exist for bird flu?
Treatment in people is prescription-based. The Cleveland Clinic guide says that if bird flu is identified early, it can be treated with antiviral medicines that a provider might prescribe: oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab) or zanamivir (Relenza). Severe cases need hospital care so the team can monitor symptoms and treat complications.
Here is how the options compare:
| Option | What the sources say | Who it suits | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antiviral medicines (oseltamivir, peramivir, zanamivir) | Cleveland Clinic says they can treat bird flu when it is identified early; a provider prescribes them. | People with symptoms or a possible exposure, under a clinician’s direction | Prescription only. Tell your clinician about every other medicine you take, since they can check for interactions. |
| Seasonal flu shot | Cleveland Clinic says it won’t directly protect you from bird flu, but it can reduce your risk of serious illness and of catching both viruses at once. | People who want to lower the chance of serious flu illness and of a double infection | Does not protect against bird flu directly. |
| Protective gear, handwashing and removing shoes at home | Cleveland Clinic lists gloves, a mask and goggles, frequent handwashing after handling animals, and taking shoes off before entering your home after being around birds or chickens. | Dairy, poultry and waterfowl workers, and their households | These lower your risk; the guide does not present them as removing it. |
| Human bird flu vaccines | Cleveland Clinic says scientists are working to develop vaccines that could help prevent avian flu or reduce its severity, to be used if there were a risk of a large outbreak. | Still under development; not described as available for general use | Ask your clinician whether any vaccine is open to you now. |
| Poultry vaccines | A 2014 review on H5N1 vaccines describes vaccination of poultry and newer vaccine types being developed. | Flock owners and the poultry industry | Concerns birds, not people. |
Prices change and vary by pharmacy, clinic and insurance, so check the current cost of any medicine or vaccine directly with your pharmacy or clinic before you decide.
What about supplements sold for bird flu?
If a product page says it fights bird flu, read the claim closely. In a 2020 warning letter, the FDA said Quten’s website claims made its CoQ10 and turmeric products unapproved new drugs. The letter does not address bird flu products. The FDA warning letter to Quten Research Institute lays out that reasoning.
A 2006 review on influenza, inflammation and anti-inflammatory drugs proposed nutraceuticals, including flavonoids, marine oils and green-lipped mussel extract, as possible options for the inflammation that can come with influenza. The abstract describes them as proposed strategies, not proven treatments. The abstract also considers non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and notes risks including gastro-intestinal ulcers and bleeding and hepato-renal reactions in severely ill patients. For a broader look at supplement labels, read our everyday wellness and supplement safety guide.
What is still unknown?
Officials have not said whether the Yakima herd count will keep rising, or whether more human cases will follow. The person’s identity and full medical history are not public, and this page will not speculate about them. Public health officials are contacting close contacts of the third confirmed human case to monitor for symptoms, so the next local updates will come from the Yakima health district and the state health department.
What to check before you decide
- If you work with cattle, poultry or waterfowl, or drink unpasteurized milk, ask a clinician about prevention and when to seek care if you develop symptoms. The guide advises seeing a provider if you think you’ve been exposed.
- Go to the nearest emergency room for difficulty breathing, fever over 103°F (40°C), confusion, severe fatigue or inability to wake up, severe headache, or stiff neck.
- Before any antiviral, list all your medicines for your clinician, including supplements.
- Check the current price of any medicine, vaccine or product with the seller or your pharmacy.
- Check the Yakima health district’s news release for the exact date and any new case counts.
By Prime Years Health Editorial Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.