Rare H5N9 avian flu strain found on California duck farm

A rare strain of avian flu, H5N9, has been found on a duck farm in central California. This is the first outbreak of this strain in U.S. poultry. Nearly 119,000 birds have been culled since early December to control the spread. The USDA is leading the investigation and increasing surveillance efforts with state and local agencies. The culling is a precaution to prevent the virus from spreading to other farms. H5N1, a more common strain, was also detected on the farm. The CDC reports that the public health risk remains low. However, they are monitoring the situation closely. So far, 67 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, with one reported death.