The United States has confirmed its first case of highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza in poultry, following an outbreak at a duck meat farm in Merced County, California, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) stated Monday.

The United States has reported its first outbreak of H5N9 bird flu in poultry on a duck farm in California, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Monday.

A California duck farm has culled thousands of birds as the virus seems to be trading genetics with other viruses

Both H5N9 and H5N1 were detected at the duck farm in Merced County, according to tests conducted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory. The event began on November 23, with clinical signs that included increased deaths in the ducks.

The H5N9 strain of avian influenza is much more rare than the H5N1 which has been responsible for most of the reported human cases and the first human death.

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H5N9 is a rare subtype of the influenza A virus that can cause highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu. It's a reassortment strain that originated from the H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2 subtypes.

The U.S. reported its first H5N9 bird flu case at a California duck farm, according to WOAH. Authorities also found H5N1 there, leading to the culling of 119,000 birds. H5N1 is the more common strain,

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 67 people in the U.S. have been infected with H5N1 bird flu. One person has died.

A new strain of bird flu, identified as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N9, has been confirmed in a duck farm in Merced County, California. This marks the first time this variant has been detected in poultry in the United States,

A new bird flu strain was detected on a California duck farm. But what's the difference between H5N9 and H5N1, and is it safe to eat poultry? A doctor explains.