It looks like H5N1 isnt the only kind of bird flu that Americans should be worried about.
Worryingly, both H5N9 and H5N1 were found on the farm, located in Merced County.
These are the first reported cases of H5N9 ever found in U.S. poultry.
Compared to other birds, ducks infected with avian influenza often don’t appear sick.© Marcus Sinhalage via Getty
Bird Flu Emerges as Key Reason Behind U.S. Later genetic testing, completed by mid-January, identified cases of H5N9 and H5N1 influenza.
Both strains appear to belong to the same broad clade of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, called 2.3.4.4b.
According to the report, state officials quarantined the farm following the detection of the outbreak.
In early December, a culling of the farms nearly 120,000 birds was performed.
The larger implications of this outbreak are unclear at this point.
But the combination appears to have only involved other strains of avian influenza.
A more worrying scenario might involve H5N1 mixing with flu strains already adapted to humans.
Neither the USDA nor APHIS appear to have provided a public update on the outbreak as of yet.
But the agency says that it will still be keeping a close eye on bird flu.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
