New H5N9 bird flu strain found in Merced County, first case in the US

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The country's archetypal lawsuit of H5N9 vertebrate flu has been identified successful Merced County.

This H5N9 strain, which was identified earlier this month, is antithetic from the H5N1 strain that has already been identified arsenic contiguous successful Merced County: quality cases of H5N1 vertebrate flu person been confirmed in Fresno County, in Merced County, and in Tulare County.

In a notification, the World Organisation for Animal Health confirms that the strain detected successful Merced County is simply a caller strain successful the country. The probe began connected Nov. 23, 2024, and it was confirmed connected Jan. 13 that "this is the archetypal confirmed lawsuit of HPAI H5N9 successful poultry successful the United States."

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), successful conjunction with State Animal Health and Wildlife Officials, are conducting broad epidemiological investigations and enhanced surveillance successful effect to the HPAI related events.

This strain of H5N9 was successful a commercialized duck premises successful Merced County. The circumstantial determination of the premises was not officially declared.

The announcement states that power measures person been undertaken successful an effort to incorporate the virus, including power of movement, surveillance and quarantine. The study from the World Organisation for Animal Health besides stated that a full of 118,954 birds were killed successful December aft authorities officials quarantined the affected premises.