H5N1 is not the only version of the bird flu we should remember. Animal health officials reported on Monday that a high pathogen strain of H7N9 bird flu was recently noticed on a chicken farm in Mississippi – a variety of lame from the H5N1 flu spreading on cattle and chickens since last year.
Published by the World Organization for Animal Health (Woah) Report At the outbreak of H7N9 Monday, based on the data provided by the US Department of Agriculture and local officials. This is the first H7N9 chicken outbreak that has seen within the US for almost a decade.
High pathogen avian influenza virus (HPAI) is a serious public health problems. These viruses are rapidly spreading to wild birds and chickens, which often cause widespread deaths (and why they are referred to as highly pathogenic). They can also do jumping over other animal species, including humans. The fear is that one such a strain will take the wrong mix of mutations that will allow it to spread widely and cause severe pain to humans – the perfect recipe for a deadly pandemya.
The most prominent HPAi subtype that is now moving is H5N1. Since early 2024, H5N1 has been caused outbreak Nationwide, and sometimes it jumps on other mammals such as cats and people. But there are always other types of HPAs that also spread around, including H7N9.
Particular subtype of bird flu was first discovered in China in 2013. One reason why H7N9 is concerned is its death when it avoids people. According to World Health OrganizationMost reported human H7N9 cases resulted in severe pain. Of the 1,568 total cases of H7N9 recorded worldwide since 2013, 616 people have died – a 39% death rate.
The last known US outbreak of H7N9 in chickens took place at 2017. But in early March, it made it an unlucky return to a farm in Noxubee, Mississippi. According to Woah, the virus was noticed in a flock of nearly 50,000 commercial chicken breeders of broiler. The genetic test that confirms the identity of the strain was completed last week.
“The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in conjunction with state health and state's health and wildlife officials, conducts a comprehensive epidemiological investigation and improved monitoring in response to discovery,” Woah said in an outbreak report.
Like the standard method for containing highly infectious infections, the field population of exposed chicken is culled. It is therefore possible that this outbreak will remain an isolated incident. But the general threat of bird flu is only growing. According to the latest report on Woah's situation, released Last month, there had been more chickens of HPAI strains worldwide during the first five months of the current wave (which began October 2024) than total outbreaks throughout the past (October 2023 to September 2024).
These outbreaks contribute greatly to the surgery of egg prices, even if their cost is starting Get offAccording to the USDA. However, it is uncertain how effective health officials are in containing H5N1 and other bird flu strains in the US, given the general injustice of the Trump administration. Just last month only the USDA had to scramble to rehire bird flu experts who lying down Under Elon Musk Doge commands.
