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Avian flu in humans may have made a reappearance after 9 months, according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Health.
An older adult male in Grays Harbor County with underlying health conditions has tested positive for avian influenza in a preliminary test and is receiving treatment, according to the press release. The risk to the public remains low, and state and local health departments are investigating potential sources of infection in the case, which include contact with wild or domestic birds.
Though avian flu does not typically infect humans, there have been 70 confirmed cases since 2022, according to the CDC. In January, one person in the US who was infected with bird flu died. None involved person-to-person spread, according to the CDC, but a new review purports that asymptomatic spread has the potential to occur among humans, and further monitoring is warranted.
Bird flu outbreaks in poultry and livestock have occurred in the United States throughout 2025, with the most recent being a report of infection in dairy cows in Idaho in October, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bird flu continues to appear in commercial and backyard flocks, with variance to be expected, according to the USDA. The reason for the gap in human cases remains unclear. In poultry, however, “We expect the number of cases to ebb and flow as the levels of virus continue to change in different areas based on wild bird movement,” the USDA experts said.
Public health guidance remains unchanged; the best ways to prevent avian flu are to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report any illnesses. Those who work with birds, cattle, or other animals that could become infected should take precautions such as wearing personal protective equipment, according to the CDC.
