CDC Reports One Confirmed Human H5N1 Infection

By Emily Carrington Portland, OR · WASHINGTON STATE —

Published Updated 1 min read

The CDC reported one confirmed human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus during Week 41. The Washington State Department of Health identified the case in a dairy farm worker aged 18 or older.

WASHINGTON STATE — The CDC published the Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report for Week 41, ending October 17, 2026. One confirmed human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was reported to the CDC during Week 41.

The Washington State Department of Health reported an avian influenza A(H5N1) case in a worker aged 18 or older at a commercial dairy cattle farm. The infected dairy worker developed eye irritation and upper respiratory symptoms.

Notification of the avian influenza case to the World Health Organization was completed per International Health Regulations. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the most frequently reported influenza virus by public health laboratories during Week 41. Early-season influenza activity is currently higher than typically observed at this time of year.

fact_check Facts

The CDC published the Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report for Week 41, ending October 17, 2026.
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the most frequently reported influenza virus by public health laboratories during Week 41.
One confirmed human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was reported to the CDC during Week 41.
Human-to-human transmission of avian influenza A(H5) virus has not been identified in the United States.
The Washington State Department of Health reported an avian influenza A(H5N1) case in a worker aged 18 or older at a commercial dairy cattle farm.
The infected dairy worker developed eye irritation and upper respiratory symptoms.
This is the first influenza A(H5) case associated with a dairy worker in Washington.
Notification of the avian influenza case to the World Health Organization was completed per International Health Regulations.

menu_bookBackground & Sources

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report, with the primary source for each item shown below it.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) conducted over 7,000 surveillance tests for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the two years prior to the 2026 detection, all of which returned negative results.
Source: agr.wa.gov
The Washington State Department of Health reported a human H5N1 infection in a worker in 2024, linked to close contact with birds and their environment during a commercial poultry outbreak.
Source: doh.wa.gov

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CDC Reports One Confirmed Human H5N1 Infection

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