Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 27, 2025 1 year, 4 weeks, 13 hours, 21 minutes ago
Medical News: In a significant development, the United States has reported its first outbreak of the H5N9 bird flu in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed the event on Monday, highlighting the detection on a duck farm in Merced County, California.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-reported-first-outbreak-h5n9-bird-flu-poultry-woah-says-2025-01-27/
https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2025-01-27/u-s-reported-first-outbreak-of-h5n9-bird-flu-in-poultry-woah-says
Another Worrisome Bird Flu Strain, H5N9 Bird Flu Debuts in United States
The outbreak, which occurred alongside the more common H5N1 strain, resulted in the culling of nearly 119,000 birds by December 2 to prevent further spread.
The emergence of the H5N9 strain marks a rare occurrence in the global fight against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. While H5N1 has been the predominant strain wreaking havoc across continents, the H5N9 subtype has now entered the spotlight, raising concerns among scientists, poultry farmers, and public health officials alike. This
Medical News report explores the details surrounding this outbreak and its potential implications.
Understanding the H5N9 Strain
The H5N9 strain is a reassortant virus, meaning it carries genetic material from multiple other influenza subtypes, including H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2. This reassortment has made it a unique pathogen. Studies have revealed that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of the novel H5N9 virus originates from lineage clade 2.3.2.1, while its neuraminidase (NA) gene is derived from the human-infective H7N9 virus. The six internal genes of this strain closely resemble those found in H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2 viruses.
What makes this Bird Flu strain particularly noteworthy is the presence of the PQRERRRKR/GL motif at the HA cleavage site, a characteristic feature of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. The virus’s ability to bind to specific receptors (such as α-2,3 sialic acid) underscores its potential for zoonotic transmission.
Implications for Poultry and Public Health
H5N9’s arrival on U.S. soil comes at a time when bird flu outbreaks are already a significant concern globally. The highly contagious nature of HPAI has led to the culling of millions of poultry, devastating the industry and disrupting food supplies. In this case, enhanced surveillance and epidemiological investigations have been initiated by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in collaboration with state and wildlife officials.
The detection of mixed subtypes, including H5, H7, H9, N1, N2, and N9, on the
California farm highlights the complexity of the challenge. Live bird markets, identified as potential hotspots for virus transmission, could amplify the risk if stringent measures are not maintained.
Risks to Humans
While no human infections from this H5N9 strain have been reported so far, the virus’s genetic makeup raises concerns. The reassortant nature of the strain, coupled with its connection to human-infective H7N9, makes it imperative to monitor its behavior closely. Public health experts caution that the virus’s potential to jump to humans and cause severe respiratory infections cannot be ruled out.
Concluding Thoughts
The emergence of the H5N9 bird flu in the United States is a stark reminder of the ever-evolving nature of zoonotic diseases. As scientists and health officials work to unravel the intricacies of this novel strain, proactive measures are critical to mitigating its impact on both the poultry industry and public health. From enhanced surveillance to biosecurity protocols, every effort must be made to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold.
For the latest on H5N9, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/h5n1-bird-flu-vaccines-are-accelerating-viral-evolution-as-currently-observed-in-china
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/usda-and-aphis-warns-of-more-domestic-cats-getting-infected-with-h5n1-in-the-united-states
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/h5n1-avian-flu
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