Public Safety · Benton County
Bird Flu Detected in Benton County Dairy Herd; Quarantine Announced Oct. 26
The Washington state Department of Agriculture confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy herd in Benton County, Washington, on Monday, Oct. 26, marking the first cattle infection in that county. The detection follows an outbreak in neighboring Yakima County roughly two weeks earlier, where eight dairy farms now have believed-infected cows. The Benton County herd is under quarantine and was identified through routine surveillance before animals became sick. State officials warned residents to avoid unpasteurized dairy products and raw meat, noted pasteurized milk remains safe with no shortages expected, and urged poultry owners and pet owners to take preventive precautions.