Washington resident dies from bird flu after exposure to infected dairy cattle

The health district also announced a third confirmed human infection in Yakima County, likewise linked to dairy cattle. That patient has neither developed serious illness nor required hospital care.

Dairy employees and people with extended or close exposure to infected animals face a higher infection risk, according to the district. Contact with contaminated surroundings also puts people at greater risk. Human-to-human transmission is exceptionally uncommon, and no such transmission has been documented in the United States.

Dave Atteberry, the district's health officer, expressed condolences to the deceased person's relatives and loved ones. He said avian influenza could cause serious illness, especially in people with pre-existing health problems. The district was continuing to coordinate with other public-health bodies to track developments and safeguard residents' health, he said.

Washington's governor, Bob Ferguson, also offered condolences in a social-media post. He said he was receiving briefings and that his team was working closely with officials responsible for agriculture and public health. Employees on affected farms were being advised to follow safety precautions, Ferguson said, while reiterating the assessment that public risk remained low.

Separately, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife reported multiple confirmed detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in western Washington during the preceding week. The department said the virus was active in that part of the state. Wildlife officials noted that infections commonly extend across Washington during the autumn movement of migratory birds.

The wildlife department urged people to report sick or dead birds promptly without handling or relocating them. Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's assessment of low human risk, it nevertheless warned that infected wildlife or domestic animals could transmit the virus to people or pets when precautions were not followed.