H5N1 isnt the only version of bird flu that we should be worried about.
Its the first poultry outbreak of H7N9 seen within the U.S. in almost a decade.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI) are aserious public health problem.
A group of broiler chicken.© Anom Harya via Shutterstock
They can also make the leap to other animal species, including humans.
The most well-known HPAI subtype circulating today is H5N1.
But there are always other kinds of HPAI spreading around as well, including H7N9.
One reason why H7N9 is worrying is its deadliness when it spills over into humans.
According to theWorld Health Organization, most reported cases of human H7N9 have resulted in severe illness.
Of the 1,568 total H7N9 cases documented globally since 2013, 616 people have dieda 39% fatality rate.
The last known U.S. outbreak of H7N9 among poultry occurred in2017.
But in early March, it made its unwelcome return on a farm in Noxubee, Mississippi.
According to WOAH, the virus was detected in a flock of nearly 50,000 commercial broiler breeder chickens.
Genetic testing confirming the strains identity was completed late last week.
So its possible that this outbreak will remain an isolated incident.
But the overall threat of bird flu is only growing.
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