# Third death from bird flu linked to dairy farm

> A Washington state resident dies after exposure to infected cattle, marking the third US death since H5 avian influenza jumped to dairy herds in March 2024.
- Title: Third death from bird flu linked to dairy farm · Ars Technica
- Summary: A Washington state resident dies after exposure to infected cattle, marking the third US death since H5 avian influenza jumped to dairy herds in March 2024…
- Keywords: bird flu, h5 avian influenza, dairy farms, washington state, yakima county, human deaths, livestock disease, technology, science, Third, death, bird
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/11/third-person-dies-of-bird-flu-since-virus-started-jumping-to-livestock
- Published: 2026-11-02T21:21:43+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bird flu, h5 avian influenza, dairy farms, washington state, yakima county, human deaths, livestock disease, technology, science
## Third US death from bird flu
A Yakima County resident in Washington state has died from bird flu after exposure at an infected dairy farm, state health officials reported Sunday. The person had underlying health conditions.
## Deaths since virus jumped to cattle
This is the third human bird flu death in the US since a strain of highly pathogenic H five avian influenza made an unprecedented jump from wild, migratory birds to dairy cows, first reported in…
## Outbreak spreading in Washington herds
Since bird flu was reported in Washington dairy cattle on October eight, three people have tested positive in Yakima County.
## Wider spread across US livestock
The USDA has reported one hundred thirty four cases of bird flu in cattle this year across Texas, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Kansas.
## No human-to-human transmission yet
To date, no human-to-human transmission of H five avian influenza has been reported from over seventy human cases detected since twenty twenty-four. Of those cases, only three have resulted in death.

> Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions. While this is a serious and heartbreaking outcome, the risk to the general public remains low.
## Key takeaway

A third person has died from bird flu in the US after exposure at an infected dairy farm in Washington state, as the virus continues spreading among cattle and wildlife.