Today, a young man’s body was discovered in the town of Al-Dibbiyeh, with a gunshot wound inflicted by a hunting rifle. The circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear.
Security forces immediately arrived at the scene, establishing a security perimeter and launching an investigation into the incident. The arrival of forensic experts and a medical examiner is awaited to examine the body and determine the cause of death, which is crucial in unraveling the details surrounding the case.
Investigations are ongoing under the supervision of relevant authorities to uncover all aspects of the incident.
SummaryThree human H5N1 cases, including one death, have been reported in Washington following exposure to infected dairy cattle. Experts warn of viral evolution and spread among mammals, stressing the need for genomic surveillance and contact tracing. The risk to the general public remains low.
The US has reported a death linked to H5N1 bird flu in Washington state, where health officials have confirmed another human case in Yakima County. All three infections were linked to exposure to infected dairy cattle.
The person who died developed severe avian influenza after exposure to infected dairy cattle and had underlying health conditions, according to the Yakima Health District. The patient was hospitalised before dying. The health district has not disclosed the person’s age, gender or identity, citing family privacy.
The infected case involves another Yakima County resident who was exposed to infected dairy cattle but has not developed severe illness or required hospitalisation.
Health officials stressed that the risk to the general public remains low. Human-to-human transmission of avian influenza is extremely rare and has never been documented in the US.
Why Are Scientists Concerned?
Scientists have called for genomic sequencing, exposure investigations and contact tracing to establish whether the infections are linked and identify any concerning viral changes.
Dr Marion Koopmans, Professor of Public Health Virology at the Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, Netherlands, flagged the possibility of different influenza viruses circulating simultaneously.
“Expect to see co-circulation of bovine and human influenza, with risk of reassortment. Therefore important to hear of contact tracing results,” she wrote on X. Reassortment occurs when influenza viruses exchange genetic material after infecting the same host.
Dr Krutika Kuppalli, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said the cases were concerning reminders that the threat persists even when public attention shifts elsewhere.
In a post on X, she also highlighted four areas requiring timely information:
Genomic sequencing: To establish whether the viruses from both cases are related and identify concerning genetic changes
Exposure histories: To determine whether the patients had shared exposures or epidemiological links
Clinical details: Including symptoms and disease progression
Treatment and outcomes: To understand the care received and clinical outcomes.
“Just because we want to ignore infectious diseases doesn’t mean they’ve gone away,” Kuppalli said, stressing the importance of continued surveillance as pathogens circulate and evolve.
Why Is H5N1 Spread Among Mammals Concerning?
Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, has also raised concerns about H5N1 infections in mammals, particularly mink.
Mink have similar susceptibility and respiratory physiology to humans, Rasmussen noted, raising concerns about the virus potentially adapting to human hosts as it evolves in these animals.
“We don’t know if H5N1 will ever make that evolutionary leap or not. We know that it could. But I hope we don’t find out,” she wrote on X.
“A worst case bird flu pandemic could literally kill hundreds of millions of people & cause agricultural, ecological, & economic collapse,” Rasmussen warned.
The risk to the general public remains low, health officials have said. However, people with close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments face a higher risk. These include dairy and agricultural workers, backyard flock owners, hunters and wildlife workers.
Public health officials are contacting people who had close contact with the patients and monitoring them for symptoms for 14 days after their last exposure.
People who work with or come into contact with animals should take precautions to minimise exposure to avian influenza.
Recommendations include:
Avoid touching wild birds and other animals, including those that appear healthy
Stay away from sick or dead animals, bird droppings and potentially contaminated surfaces.
Workers exposed to infected animals should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), follow recommended precautions and report suspected illness in animals.
Hunters should wear disposable gloves when handling harvested birds and practise good hygiene.
Ask your healthcare provider about seasonal flu vaccination. It does not prevent bird flu but may reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with human and avian influenza viruses.
A milk sample from a Weld County dairy tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, also called bird flu, during routine testing Friday, October 23, 2026. The finding changes Colorado’s status under the National Milk Testing Strategy to “Affected.” Dairy cattle moving to other states must now meet new federal testing rules.
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The sample came from a bulk tank, which holds milk from the whole herd. The first result came back non-negative for the H5N1 virus, clade 2.3.4.4b. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories has since confirmed the positive result.
The strain appears to be B3.13. This strain has kept spreading among dairies across the country. It has not been found in wild birds. That means the virus likely spread from one dairy to another. Whole genome sequencing may help show where it came from.
The herd has not shown major signs of illness. The dairy has noted some recent cases of mastitis, an udder infection, and a slight drop in milk production.
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The dairy is under a state quarantine. The quarantine limits movement of lactating dairy cattle, which are cows producing milk. The dairy has also added biosecurity measures and weekly bulk tank testing. Workers now use personal protective equipment to lower their risk of infection. Officials hope quick detection and these steps will also protect other Colorado dairies. The quarantine will stay in place until the dairy has two negative bulk tank tests at least a week apart.
Under the new status, lactating dairy cattle must test negative for Influenza A virus before moving to another state. The test must be done at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network lab, using a test the network has approved. For groups of 30 or fewer animals, every animal being moved must be tested. For groups of more than 30, only 30 animals total must be tested. Samples must be collected and tested no more than seven days before the move.
Nonlactating dairy cattle do not need testing to move to other states at this time because of their lower risk. These include heifers, dry cows and bull calves.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will pay for all premovement testing done at network labs. That means the testing costs nothing for the producer or the person sending the sample. Costs for collecting or shipping samples are not covered at this time. Full details are in the agency’s guide, “Requirements and Recommendations for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock For State Animal Health Officials, Accredited Veterinarians and Producers.”
Check Symptoms
Signs of illness reported in affected dairies include:
Lower milk production. Some cows have a sudden, sharp drop, and badly affected cows may give thick, concentrated milk that looks like colostrum. Other signs include eating less, sticky or loose manure, low energy, dehydration, a low-grade fever and breathing problems, including a clear runny nose.
High amounts of virus shed by an infected dairy can contaminate the area around it. This puts other dairies at risk. It also threatens nearby commercial poultry farms and backyard flocks. H5N1 is highly deadly to birds. Stronger biosecurity helps contain the virus and protect poultry producers from catastrophic losses. It is also peak migration season, and wild birds could be another source of the virus. All poultry facilities are urged to increase biosecurity.
Dairy biosecurity guidance is available through the Secure Milk Supply Program and the FARM Program. Producers should consider pasteurizing all milk products fed to calves. Limiting contact with wild birds and their droppings may lower the risk of exposure. More information on wild bird biosecurity is on the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s HPAI website. Guidance for poultry operations and backyard flocks is available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Defend the Flock program.
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This detection is a reminder that the virus is still spreading and that staying alert is essential. Veterinarians and producers should report any suspected cases right away by calling (303) 869-9130, by using the Reportable Disease Case Report Form or by contacting their local Veterinary Medical Officer.
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