A person in Washington State has died from complications of bird flu after exposure to cattle, according to the Associated Press. It is the first bird flu death reported in the United States this year and the third overall since the virus became a major public health concern in 2024.
The Washington case involved H5N5, a rarer version of the virus. The two earlier U.S. deaths were linked to H5N1.
Bird flu cases in recent years have largely been milder than scientists expected, leaving researchers both relieved and uncertain, according to reporting cited by STAT. The report also warned against drinking raw milk, particularly while bird flu is circulating.
Sources: STAT News.