Bird Flu Found in Central Washington Dairy Herd; Officials Warn Against Raw Milk

Bird flu was detected in a dairy herd in Benton County, Washington, prompting public-health officials to warn consumers not to drink raw, unpasteurized milk.

The detection involves dairy cattle in Central Washington. Available reports do not establish that anyone became infected through the herd, that contaminated milk entered retail distribution, or that a product recall was issued.

The clearest precaution is simple: choose pasteurized milk and dairy products, avoid raw milk, and follow updates from Washington health and agriculture authorities.

What Officials Confirmed

Reports from The Seattle Times and Tri-City-area news outlets state that bird flu was detected in a Central Washington dairy herd. Tri-Cities-area reporting identified Benton County as the location reported by Washington officials Source 7. The Seattle Times also reported the detection and the warning against consuming raw milk Source 1.

The available reporting confirms that:

• Bird flu was identified in cattle at a Benton County dairy operation.
• Officials warned the public not to consume raw milk.
• Animal-health and public-health agencies are monitoring the situation.
• The reports do not verify the herd’s size or the number of affected cattle.
• The reports do not establish a human infection linked to the herd.
• The reports do not confirm whether milk from the operation entered retail distribution.
• No specific recall is identified in the supplied reporting.

“Bird flu” is a general term for avian influenza, a disease caused by influenza A viruses. Laboratory testing is required to identify the specific subtype and confirm infection. H5N1 is one avian influenza subtype associated with outbreaks in birds and infections in some mammals, including dairy cattle.

A detection in one herd does not mean that all Washington dairy farms are infected or that all milk sold in stores is unsafe. The public-health response depends on follow-up testing, animal-movement information, product tracing, and additional findings from state and federal agencies.

Why Officials Warn Against Raw Milk

Raw milk has not undergone pasteurization. Pasteurization uses controlled heat treatment to reduce disease-causing microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. Raw milk can contain infectious organisms even when it looks, smells, and tastes normal.

Refrigeration does not eliminate every pathogen, and consumers cannot determine whether raw milk is safe through visual inspection. Labels such as “farm fresh,” “local,” or “organic” do not necessarily mean that a product is pasteurized. Read the label and ask the seller when the processing status is unclear.

Infected dairy cattle may shed influenza virus in milk, creating a potential exposure route through raw milk. The concern also applies to unpasteurized cream, homemade dairy products, and other foods made with raw milk.

The Washington Post reported bird-flu virus detection in raw milk sold at a California store Source 9. That report is separate from the Benton County investigation and does not show that the two events shared a farm, processor, or supply chain.

Consumers should distinguish among four situations:

1. Bird flu detected in dairy cattle.
2. Virus detected in raw milk.
3. Virus detected in a commercial pasteurized product.
4. A confirmed human infection associated with a specific exposure.

Each situation requires separate evidence. A herd detection alone does not establish contamination of every dairy product or infection among nearby residents.

What Consumers in Washington Should Do

Choose pasteurized dairy products

Select milk and dairy products labeled pasteurized, including milk, cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, pasteurized cheese, and other packaged products made with pasteurized ingredients.

Check labels at farm stands, farmers markets, co-ops, roadside sellers, and direct-to-consumer suppliers. Local or organic status does not determine whether a product has been pasteurized. If the label is unclear, ask the seller before buying or consuming it.

Avoid raw milk and raw-milk products

Until officials issue different guidance, avoid:

• Raw milk
• Unpasteurized cream
• Homemade dairy products made with raw milk
• Dairy products with unclear pasteurization status
• Raw-milk cheese when its safety status is uncertain

Do not give raw milk to children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pets, livestock, or backyard poultry. Home heating may not provide the same predictable control as approved commercial pasteurization.

Follow product-specific notices

Monitor updates from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State Department of Health, the United States Department of Agriculture, and local county health departments.

If officials announce a recall:

1. Do not consume the product.
2. Keep it away from other food.
3. Follow instructions for disposal or return.
4. Clean surfaces and utensils that contacted the product.
5. Do not give the product to another person or animal.

Do not discard all milk or dairy products unless an official notice identifies them or instructs consumers to do so. Product safety depends on the item, source, processing method, and distribution history.

What to Do After Drinking Raw Milk

People who consumed raw milk do not need to assume they have bird flu. Symptoms from many infections can overlap, and symptoms alone cannot identify avian influenza.

Monitor your health and contact a healthcare provider if illness develops. Tell the provider that raw milk was consumed, along with the product name, seller, purchase date, consumption date, and any contact with dairy cattle, sick animals, or contaminated farm environments.

Seek urgent medical care for severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, confusion, dehydration, or rapidly worsening illness. Current testing and reporting guidance should come from public-health authorities and healthcare professionals.

Do not give leftover raw milk to other people or animals. Follow official instructions about preserving, disposing of, or reporting the product.

Who Faces the Highest Exposure Risk?

The highest exposure risk generally concerns people who have direct contact with infected animals or contaminated materials, including:

• Dairy workers
• Veterinarians
• Animal-health responders
• Farm visitors
• People handling sick or dead animals
• Workers cleaning animal areas or equipment

Exposure can occur through contact with milk, feces, respiratory secretions, contaminated equipment, clothing, vehicles, or farm environments. Farm personnel should follow workplace requirements for protective equipment, hand hygiene, animal separation, and illness reporting.

Protective measures may include eye protection, gloves, respiratory protection, protective clothing, and procedures for changing or cleaning equipment. Exact measures depend on current agency and workplace guidance.

Some animals can also become infected with influenza viruses. Do not feed raw milk to pets, livestock, or backyard animals. Contact a veterinarian or animal-health authority if an animal becomes sick after exposure to raw milk, dairy cattle, wild birds, or contaminated environments.

How Bird Flu Can Reach Dairy Farms

Investigators may consider several possible pathways when bird flu is found in dairy cattle, including:

• Contact with infected wild birds
• Contaminated equipment or vehicles
• Animal movement between facilities
• Contact with infected animals
• Contaminated clothing, footwear, or materials
• Exposure to infected environments

These are possible routes, not confirmed explanations for the Benton County detection. Veterinary and epidemiological investigations are needed to determine how the virus reached a specific farm.

A herd detection means laboratory testing identified the virus in one or more animals or samples associated with the operation. It does not automatically mean that people in the surrounding community are infected, that every Washington dairy farm is affected, or that consumers should avoid all dairy products.

Regional Surveillance in Oregon and the West

Oregon commercial dairy farms were expected to begin weekly bird-flu testing in December 2024, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting Source 5.

Weekly testing is a monitoring measure. It does not show that the Washington herd caused infections in Oregon. Regional surveillance helps agencies compare test results, identify possible transmission routes, establish farm restrictions, and coordinate public guidance.

Testing results and case counts can change as agencies examine additional animals and premises. Check publication dates because recommendations may be updated.

How Authorities Respond to an Infected Herd

State and federal agencies may use several response tools when bird flu is detected in dairy cattle, including:

• Follow-up testing
• Monitoring additional animals
• Limiting animal movement
• Isolating affected cattle
• Protecting farm workers
• Cleaning and disinfecting equipment
• Tracing milk and dairy-product distribution

These are general components of an animal-health response. The supplied reports do not confirm which controls were used at the Benton County operation.

If authorities suspect that a dairy product presents a public-health risk, they may trace its distribution and issue a recall. A recall normally identifies a specific product, producer, lot, date, or sales channel. Consumers should rely on those details rather than broad online claims.

Key Takeaways

• Bird flu was reported in a dairy herd in Benton County, Washington.
• Officials warned consumers not to drink raw milk.
• Pasteurized milk and dairy products remain the recommended choice.
• The supplied reports do not establish a human case linked to the herd.
• They do not confirm that milk from the herd entered retail distribution.
• Consumers should follow official notices about recalls, testing, and exposure.
• People with direct exposure who develop symptoms should contact a healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drink milk from a Washington grocery store?

Choose milk labeled pasteurized and follow current state and federal guidance. Bird flu detection in one dairy herd does not mean that all retail milk is unsafe. Check official notices for product-specific recalls.

What is raw milk?

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. It may contain harmful bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens even when it looks and smells normal. “Farm fresh,” “local,” and “organic” do not necessarily mean that milk is pasteurized.

Can pasteurization reduce bird flu virus in milk?

Approved pasteurization uses controlled heat treatment designed to reduce or eliminate harmful microorganisms, including viruses, under specified conditions. Buy dairy products labeled pasteurized and avoid relying on informal home-processing methods.

Did anyone get bird flu from the Benton County dairy herd?

The supplied reports confirm bird flu detection in cattle but do not report a human infection linked to the herd. Current information about exposure investigations should come from the Washington State Department of Health and local health authorities.

What should I do if I already drank raw milk?

Monitor your health and contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop. Provide the product name, purchase location, consumption date, and information about contact with dairy cattle or other animals. Do not give remaining raw milk to people or animals, and follow official disposal or reporting instructions.

Where can I find reliable updates?

Check the Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of Agriculture, USDA, and local county health departments. Review publication dates because testing results, recalls, and health guidance can change.