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New Strain of Bird Flu Detected in U.S., Raising Concerns Among Scientists

A new strain of bird flu, H5N9, has been detected in the United States for the first time, sparking concerns among experts about the continued evolution of avian influenza. The strain was identified at a commercial duck farm in Merced County, California, and reported to the World Organization for Animal Health, which tracks global animal disease threats.


H5N9 Emerges Amid Ongoing Bird Flu Outbreaks

The discovery of H5N9 comes as the country grapples with a worsening outbreak of H5N1, a more prevalent bird flu strain that has been spreading rapidly among poultry farms and dairy cows. While H5N9 is not currently considered a major threat to humans, experts caution that further mutations could increase the risk of transmission to people.

A key concern is "reassortment", a process where different flu strains mix in infected animals, potentially giving rise to more dangerous variants. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the H5N9 strain found in California resulted from reassortment involving H5N1, suggesting an environment conducive to viral evolution.

“It does suggest there’s enough virus around that reassortment might become more frequent,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan, in an interview with The Washington Post. She warned that the mixing of bird flu strains with seasonal flu in humans could create a potential pandemic virus.

Quarantine and Culling Measures Taken

The H5N9 outbreak was first detected in late November at a commercial duck meat farm in Merced County, prompting the quarantine of the facility and the culling of over 100,000 birds to contain the virus. Genetic sequencing in January confirmed the presence of the new strain, leading to a formal report to health authorities.

Despite the concern, officials believe the risk has been mitigated for now. Steve Lyle, director of public affairs for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, told The Post that no further action is currently planned, as the infected flock has already been euthanized. The farm will undergo cleaning and testing before resuming operations.

Economic and Public Health Implications

While H5N9 is not entirely new, with similar strains identified in other countries, its emergence in the U.S. underscores the ongoing threat posed by avian flu to both agriculture and public health. Past outbreaks have shown that reassortment events can trigger pandemics, making continuous monitoring essential.

“The fact that these [agricultural] operations are having to cull their flocks is costly. We see that when we look at the cost of eggs in the store,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University. She also warned that the ongoing spread of bird flu to cows and other livestock could have long-term economic consequences.

With bird flu continuing to evolve, experts emphasize the need for vigilant surveillance and biosecurity measures to prevent future outbreaks that could pose a greater risk to humans.



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