Federal officials have reported the detection of highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza among ducks at a commercial meat farm in California. This marks the first reported case of H5N9 in U.S. poultry. The outbreak, which dates back to last November, also involved the detection of H5N1, raising concerns about the potential for reassortment and the emergence of new, more transmissible strains.
It looks like H5N1 isn’t the only kind of bird flu that Americans should be worried about. Federal officials have just reported finding highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza among ducks at a commercial meat farm in California.the World Organization for Animal Health about the detection of H5N9 this past weekend, though the outbreak itself dates back to last November. Worryingly, both H5N9 and H5N1 were found on the farm, located in Merced County.
“This is the first confirmed case of HPAI H5N9 in poultry in the United States,” the WOAH report said. The larger implications of this outbreak are unclear at this point. One reason why influenza is dangerous is that different variants can sometimes infect the same host and mix together, producing a new strain with unpredictable properties—including changes that could make it more adaptable to human transmission. This process, known as reassortment, is exactly what led to the emergence of H5N9 in this outbreak, according to APHIS .
Ducks are a concerning host for avian influenza, since they often don’t show signs of illness; that in turn could make them more proficient vectors of infection to other birds and animals. At the same time, this outbreak may be an isolated incident, as no additional cases of H5N9 have been detected elsewhere.all of its federal health agencies to cease most external communication for the time being. Neither the USDA nor APHIS appear to have provided a public update on the outbreak as of yet.
BIRD FLU H5N9 H5N1 OUTBREAK CALIFORNIA REASSORTMENT
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