Bird Flu Alert: California Duck Farm Strikes First in U. S.

In the heart of Merced County, California, a shocking discovery was made. For the first time in the United States, a rare bird flu strain known as H5N9 has hit a duck farm. The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) reported this news on January 27. But that's not all. The same farm also had the more common H5N1 strain, leading to the unfortunate demise of over 119, 000 birds by December 2.Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu as it's commonly called, has been spreading globally in recent years. This has led to the killing of millions of poultry. Not only that, it has also spread to over 30 mammal species, including dairy cows in the U. S. , and even caused a human fatality in Louisiana. The H5N1 strain has been the main culprit, while H5N9 is much rarer. The U. S. Department of Agriculture confirmed this as the first case of H5N9 in poultry in the U. S. Their Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), along with local officials, are currently investigating and monitoring the situation closely.