First U.S. bird flu death of 2026 reported in Washington state after cattle exposure

A person in Washington state died from complications of avian influenza, according to the Associated Press. It is the first bird flu death in the United States this year.

The case follows recent reports linking the infection to exposure to infected cattle, highlighting a zoonotic transmission route that health officials are monitoring.

This marks the third bird flu fatality recorded in the U.S. overall, underscoring ongoing concerns about the virus’s spread among livestock and the need for continued surveillance.