Explained: Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle

A Yakima County, Washington resident died from complications of bird flu, the first such U.S. death in a year

H5N1

A version of avian influenza (bird flu) that has infected animals and some humans in the U.S.

H5N5

A rarer version of bird flu that caused a prior Washington state death in November 2025

avian influenza

A viral infection (bird flu) that spreads among birds and can occasionally infect other animals and humans