An outbreak of a deadly strain of the bird flu was confirmed last week at a poultry farm in Mississippi, marking the first time an outbreak of the new bird flu strain had been confirmed in a commercial flock of poultry since 2017.
According to a March 13 report, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed that the deadly H7N9 strain of the bird flu was “detected in a commercial broiler breeder chicken flock in Mississippi.”
In a recent press release, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service explained that the detection of the H7N9 bird flu strain was the “first HPAI H7 case in commercial poultry in the United States since 2017.”
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service stated, “The flock of roughly 46,000 birds was experiencing high mortality, and samples tested at the Mississippi Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Laboratory, a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, were presumptive positive for HPAI then confirmed at APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories.”
According to the State of Mississippi Board of Animal Health, the poultry farm in Noxubee, Mississippi, has been “quarantined,” and the poultry farm has been “depopulated” to prevent any additional spread of the deadly disease. The State of Mississippi Board of Animal Health confirmed that none of the birds from the affected flock entered the food system.
Addressing the recent outbreak in Mississippi, Woah stated, “The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in conjunction with state animal health and wildlife officials, is conducting a comprehensive epidemiological investigation and enhanced surveillance in response to the detection.”
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Dr. Myles Druckman, global medical director for the International SOS in California, told Fox News that H7N9 was initially described as a “novel reassortant” of three different bird flu strains.
“Since its discovery, it has infected more than 1,500 people and about 40% of the infected people died as a result,” Druckman said. “Symptoms typically develop within five days following exposure to the virus and can last up to 10 days.”
Druckman told Fox News that common symptoms of the H7N9 strain include a cough and a fever, which can lead to pneumonia or shortness of breath. The doctor explained that most people infected with the H7N9 strain “experience severe respiratory illness.”
“This specific strain of influenza is typically found in people who have had contact with poultry or infected birds,” Druckman added. “To avoid exposure to H7N9, do not go to any live animal markets, handle birds (even if they appear healthy) or touch any surfaces that may be contaminated by bird droppings.”