Rare Bird Flu Strain H5N9 Detected at California Poultry Farm

A rare strain of bird flu, H5N9, has been confirmed at a duck farm in Merced County, California, marking the first outbreak of this highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry within the United States. The detection of H5N9 coincided with an outbreak of the more common H5N1 strain on the same farm, leading to the deaths of approximately 119,000 birds since early December.

The outbreak was reported by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and authorities, including the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), are conducting extensive epidemiological investigations and heightened surveillance in response to the situation. The USDA has stated, "Whether this novel H5N9 virus will cause human infections from its avian host and become a pandemic subtype is not known yet," indicating a need for continued monitoring.

Bird flu has been a growing concern globally, leading to the culling of millions of poultry and affecting various mammal species. Recent data reveals that over 13 million birds have been impacted by H5N1 across the United States in just the past month, and the total death toll from this strain since 2022 stands at 136 million.

Rising prices of eggs have been a consequence of these outbreaks, with the average price for a dozen Grade A eggs increasing from $2 to $4.16 in just over a year.

Concerns are also emerging regarding the virus's transmission to domestic animals, with reports of bird flu infections in cats. While the CDC considers the current public health risk low, they are closely monitoring the situation alongside state authorities.