US Reports First H5N9 Bird Flu Outbreak in Poultry

The United States has reported its first outbreak of the H5N9 bird flu strain at a duck farm in California, as confirmed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). In addition, the more common H5N1 strain was also detected at the same farm, leading to the culling of nearly 119,000 birds. Meanwhile, in the UK, a human case of H5N1 has been confirmed, with the infected individual having had close contact with infected birds on a farm. Health authorities in both the U.S. and UK emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low, despite ongoing surveillance and investigations into these outbreaks. The emergence of the rarer H5N9 strain signifies a notable development in the ongoing battle against avian influenza, which has led to significant poultry culls globally. Increased vigilance is being urged in response to the situation, which has seen avian flu spread to various mammal species as well.