The United States has confirmed its first outbreak of the H5N9 bird flu strain in poultry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the discovery on a duck farm in Merced County, California. The confirmation came through a report submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This outbreak, reported on a Monday, involved the culling of nearly 119,000 birds by December 2.
"This is the first confirmed case of HPAI H5N9 in poultry in the United States," – U.S. Department of Agriculture
The farm, now at the center of attention, not only faced the H5N9 strain but also detected the more prevalent H5N1 strain. While H5N9 is considered a rarer form of avian influenza compared to H5N1, both are highly pathogenic. The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been a concerning global event in recent years, leading to the culling of hundreds of millions of poultry worldwide.
The outbreak's implications extend beyond poultry. The H5N9 virus has reportedly spread to dozens of mammal species, including dairy cows within the United States. Tragically, the virus has also claimed human life, with one fatality reported in Louisiana. These developments underscore the potential risks and challenges posed by this particular strain of avian influenza.
While the specific date and format of the report sent to WOAH remain unspecified, the confirmed outbreak elevates concerns around agricultural and public health sectors. The agency responsible for confirming the outbreak took swift action to manage and contain this unexpected development on the duck farm.
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