Washington state resident dies in first US bird flu death of 2026

A resident of south-central Washington state died on Sunday after contracting avian influenza, according to reports from the Washington Examiner and UPI. Officials confirmed the fatality marks the first human death from bird flu in the United States in 2026. [1][2]

The Washington Examiner and UPI reported that the individual lived in Yakima County and had underlying health conditions. The Washington Examiner reported that the resident was exposed to the virus at a dairy with infected cattle. UPI noted that health officials will not release the name, gender, or age of the person out of respect for family privacy. [1][2]

The Washington Examiner and UPI both reported that this fatality is the third recorded death linked to H5 bird flu in United States history. [1][2]