US: High pathogenic H5N9 variant in ducks on farm

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) has reported the first outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza on a duck farm in California. Concurrent with the identification of the more prevalent H5N1 strain on the same farm in Merced County, California, the highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza was detected in poultry. Since early December, nearly 119,000 birds on the farm have been euthanised. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported this as the first confirmed case of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N9) in poultry in the United States to the WOAH.