Bird flu

2025 - 1 - 27

When Ducks Fly High: H5N9 Bird Flu Hits California!

Avian flu outbreaks - Bird-to-human transmission - Duck farming - Egg prices - Food safety - H5N9 avian influenza - Poultry industry

California ducks have tested positive for H5N9 bird flu. Will this change your lunch plans? ๐Ÿฆ†๐Ÿ—

In an unprecedented turn of events, the United States has recorded its first outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N9 bird flu strain at a duck farm in California's Merced County. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed that the outbreak has raised alarms not just among poultry farmers but within public health sectors. Following a series of tests, health officials have identified the virus on a California duck meat farm that previously experienced a troubling outbreak. While avian influenza is a well-known concern in the agricultural community, the introduction of H5N9 into the domestic poultry landscape pushes the envelope even further.

Interest in avian influenza is not restricted to the farm. The UK has also reported a human case of H5N1 bird flu, which involved a farm worker who had close contact with infected birds. This highlights the importance of stringent safety measures and monitoring protocols to prevent the flu from jumping from birds to humans. Experts from the UK Health Security Agency emphasize that while cases of bird-to-human transmission are rare, vigilance remains crucial, particularly with this new strain making headlines.

Meanwhile, the spread of bird flu hasnโ€™t just been confined to California. El Paso has seen avian influenza outbreaks affecting wild birds, causing additional concern for poultry flocks and dairy cattle nationwide. In Pennsylvania, the first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in a large flock of chickens, underscoring the wide-reaching implications of H5N9 and other bird flu strains on agriculture across the country.

As the outbreaks continue to emerge, misinformation can run rampant on social media platforms. Health officials, including those from California, stress that despite the rise in bird flu cases, the safety of the poultry and egg supply is intact. They assure consumers that with proper food handling protocols in place, the risks are minimized.

Interestingly, the H5N9 strain, although concerning, has not yet shown signs of being particularly transmissible to humans. It is critical for consumers to understand that keeping chickens and ducks under control can significantly diminish the chances of an outbreak. Also, while the recent outbreaks may seem alarming, remember that information is power! Stay informed and spread the word so everyone can enjoy chicken nuggets without fear!

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Image courtesy of "CIDRAP"

Tests identify H5N9 avian flu at California duck farm (CIDRAP)

Highly pathogenic H5N9 avian flu has been identified for the first time in US poultry, on a duck meat farm in California that experienced an outbreak in ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Case of bird flu confirmed in farm worker (BBC News)

The UK Health Security Agency says cases of bird-to-human transmission were rare.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

US reports first outbreak of H5N9 bird flu in poultry (Reuters)

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) ...

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Image courtesy of "KTVU San Francisco"

H5N9 bird flu outbreak: New virus strain detected on California duck ... (KTVU San Francisco)

A new strain of a highly pathogenic and rare strain of bird flu has been reported on a duck farm in central California.

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Image courtesy of "El Paso Matters"

Bird flu in El Paso โ€“ what we know so far (El Paso Matters)

El Paso reported avian influenza in wild birds as outbreaks hit poultry flocks and dairy cattle nationwide.

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Image courtesy of "NBC 10 Philadelphia"

Pennsylvania's first case of bird flu in domestic poultry found in ... (NBC 10 Philadelphia)

The testing will begin Dec. 16. What to Know. Officials confirmed the first positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) โ€“ more ...

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Image courtesy of "KDKA"

First case of bird flu detected in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania ... (KDKA)

Lehigh County is roughly an hour northwest of Philadelphia. The case of bird flu, aka highly pathogenic avian influenza, was detected on a 50,000 chicken flock ...

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Image courtesy of "LehighValleyNews.com"

Bird flu in Lehigh County poultry flock is Pa.'s 1st case in 2025 (LehighValleyNews.com)

A farm in Lehigh County has tested positive for HPIA, according to a news release Monday from the state Department of Agriculture. A response team is in ...

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Image courtesy of "CIDRAP"

UK reports H5N1 in a poultry worker (CIDRAP)

The United Kingdom's Health Security Agency (HSA) today reported a human H5N1 avian flu infection in a person who had close and prolonged contact with a ...

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Image courtesy of "Quartz"

Bird flu outbreak strikes poultry farm in California (Quartz)

The United States has reported its initial outbreak of the H5N9 bird flu strain in poultry, specifically at a duck farm in Merced County, California. This ...

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Image courtesy of "WIFR"

Geese at Lake Summerset test positive for bird flu (WIFR)

Two geese taken from ...

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Bird Flu Enters a New Phase, Scientists Say (The New York Times)

A pandemic is not inevitable, scientists say. But the outbreak has passed worrisome milestones in recent weeks, including cattle that may have been ...

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Image courtesy of "Hoosier Ag Today"

Eggs, Poultry Products Remain Safe Following Recent Statewide ... (Hoosier Ag Today)

However, there has been a lot of misinformation out there on social media when it comes to Bird Flu. โ€œOur poultry and egg supply remains safe,โ€ says Becky ...

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Image courtesy of "Columbia Missourian"

National influx of bird flu will continue to affect Missouri egg prices (Columbia Missourian)

The price of one dozen Grade-A large eggs has risen from an average price of $3.65 in November 2024 to $4.15 in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor ...

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Image courtesy of "WSFA"

Expert says bird flu impacting egg prices in Alabama (WSFA)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( ...

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Image courtesy of "ABC30 News"

New strain of bird flu detected in Merced County (ABC30 News)

As the price for a carton of eggs continues to soar nationwide, so does the number of bird flu cases.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Why scientists' fears about bird flu are intensifying (NPR)

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is spreading among livestock and other mammals in the United States, raising concerns that another pandemic may be looming.

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Image courtesy of "90.5 WESA"

Pa. Dept. of Agriculture confirms state's first positive bird flu case of ... (90.5 WESA)

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture confirmed this year's first positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Monday.

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Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

New bird flu strain found on a California duck farm (Los Angeles Times)

A new strain of H5N9 bird flu was detected at a commercial duck operation in California's Merced County. All the ducks were euthanized.

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Image courtesy of "Fortune"

Bird flu is pushing egg prices toward record highs. That probably ... (Fortune)

Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023.

What to know about bird flu cases in CT flocks (Connecticut Public Radio)

Preliminary tests have detected bird flu in a backyard flock in New Haven County, according to Connecticut's Department of Agriculture.

New strain of bird flu confirmed in US (Medical Xpress)

A report by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), which AFP saw on Tuesday, said "highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N9" had been confirmed ...

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

How are H5N9 and H5N1 different? What to know after California ... (CBS News)

But the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it was the first time that H5N9 had been found in American poultry sick with "highly pathogenic avian influenza," ...

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Image courtesy of "ABC11 Raleigh-Durham"

Commercial turkey flock tests positive for bird flu in Sampson County (ABC11 Raleigh-Durham)

This is the second case of High Path Avian Influenza in commercial poultry in North Carolina this year. The first was in Hyde County. "Since 2022, HPAI has ...

US reports first outbreak of H5N9 bird flu in poultry (unmc.edu)

U.S. authorities also detected the more common H5N1 strain on the same farm in Merced County, California, they said in a report to Paris-based WOAH, adding that ...

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Image courtesy of "UConn Today"

Does Bird Flu Affect My Food? - UConn Today (UConn Today)

โ€œBird fluโ€ is the name that has been used to describe a disease caused by the avian influenza virus (H5N1). It can spread among wild birds, poultry, cattle, ...

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Image courtesy of "Pennsylvania Capital-Star"

Agriculture officials respond to 'heightened threat' as bird flu is found ... (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Officials locked down a Lehigh County poultry farm where bird flu has been found in a commercial flock for the first time in nearly a year.

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Image courtesy of "The Journal News / Lohud.com"

Bird flu outbreak: What are the symptoms? Avian flu cases top 126K ... (The Journal News / Lohud.com)

Health officials urged people to identify avian flu symptoms early and properly cook chicken and eggs to limit risk of infections.

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Image courtesy of "WRAL.com"

Second bird flu outbreak detected in NC as egg prices approach ... (WRAL.com)

According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, a commercial turkey operation in Sampson County has tested positive for high-path avian influenza ...

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Image courtesy of "WHAS11.com"

Second largest egg producer in US confirms bird flu cases at ... (WHAS11.com)

Rose Acre Farms is the second largest egg producer in the U.S. They are working with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health to handle the bird flu ...

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Here's Why Egg Prices Are So Highโ€”And May Get Worse As Bird ... (Forbes)

The avian flu forces farmers to kill their entire flock to help limit the spread if the flu is found on a poultry farm, the Associated Press reported, and more ...

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Image courtesy of "The Journal News / Lohud.com"

Can you get bird flu from eating chicken or eggs? What to know ... (The Journal News / Lohud.com)

The risk of bird flu to humans is low, but eating undercooked eggs or chicken could increase your chances of exposure to infection and germs.

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