A bird flu tense that was never seen in the United States has been detected on a California farmhouse.
The H5n9 is a very pathogenic, a type of fresh bird, known as the name “bird flu”. This is not the same type of flu in US dairy cows and poultry farms, at least several dozen infections have caused humans. The virus is called H5N1.
So what is H5N9? How does it different from H5N1, and should we be the same?
To help Science Journalism
If you enjoy this article, consider entering award-winning journalism Subscribe. By purchasing subscription, you are helping to ensure the future of stories about the discoveries and ideas that are conformed to today.
What is H5N9?
H5N9 is a bird flu (or bird flu) with the structural resemblance of H5N1.
“Low pathogen” H5N9 viruses have been detected earlier in the US and anywhere else in the world in birds, Dating from the 1960s. However these infections are usually Those with less serious symptoms than “very pathogens”. This is the first time the pathogen of H5N9 in the US, and these term voltages are Also quite rare all over the world.
How did H5n9 been created?
New Grip’s underline and tensions can be created If the virus includes random genetic mutations, as well as multiple viruses to exchange genetic information with each other. It is known as this last process Many moreAnd usually occurs when an organism is contaminated at two different viruses at once.
Some experts suspect that H5n9 ducks were created between California ducks and the genetic reuse of other flu viruses with N9 protein circulating. (“H5” and “N9” bird flu is two proteins found on the surface of the virus that give its name to the subtyp of.)
H5N1 was also detected in farm birds, so this could be possible, according to A January 24 Report From the organization of animals (Woah) in the world, which controls animal diseases around the world.
Such a recurrence can lead to “unpredictable new viruses” Angela RasmussenBirologist from Canada Saskatchewan University, wrote in x.
He added that the ducks can be large animals to happen to the genetic phrase, unlike, they are not very sick from many gripe birds viruses. Therefore, while the contaminated chicken would die quickly, the ducks can survive and continue to spread the disease to new hosts.
What happened to H5N9 detected on the farm?
On the report on January 24, Woah announced that H5n9 was identified on a California duck farm in Merced County. The current explosion indicated by the report confirmed on January 13, the officials are very monitored.
“The USDA’s animal and planting health inspection service (APHIS), along with the health and fauna of the State animal, improved full epidemiological research and surveillance HPAI (very pathogen to respond to flu),” Woah wrote the report.
To avoid spreading more infection, almost 119,000 birds of the farm now cut off. These bird flu virus are “very pathogens” because deadly for certain birds – Like chickens – and the flock seen is usually raped so that additional flocks are not sick.
Why is the bird flu?
Scientists recently stated increasing concern A bird flu tension can be mute in a form that is easily expanded between humans pandemic. This happened in historical pandemic such as “Spanish flu” in 1918 and “Asian flu” in 1957.
Humans can be contaminated with bird flu if virus In their eyes, it enters or inhaled in the nose or mouth in the air as drops. However, not all bird flu viruses are effectively infected by people and then spread among them. When more opportunities to spread to new animals, viruses are more likely to receive this ability and harm humans.
Notable, in recent years, H5N1 has spread to new countries, Including the US It has been very wild birds and birds to pollute and has also jumped in various mammals, Including cattle and Homemade cats. From the discovery, he has infected more than H5N1 900 people worldwideand in the last year, at least 67 people in the US have been contaminated. In December 2024, he became a woman in Louisiana The first person in the US dies as a result of an H5N1 infection.
How does H5N9 differ from H5N1?
Avian flu viruses come in different subtipos, which are named according to the subtle variations of the structure Two surface protein keys Virus: Hemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (n). H5N9 and H5N1 Hemagglutinin have the same protein, but neuraminidase is a different protein.
Specific combination of virus H and n proteins Specifies an important featureWhether it is to expand from one animal to another, whether it is lethal and resistant to anticipation.
Protein Neuraminidase in addition to differences, H5N1 is different from H5n1 in many other ways.
For example, H5N1 infections are more common between humans and is believed Between all the highly pathogenic multi-bird voltage in humans and hens.
H5N9 has a risk to humans?
However, there is little known to be able to extend H5n9 humans and whether it can cause a pandemic.
On his website, disease control and prevention center (CDC) says today The public health risk of H5 flu is “low” Agency “is watching the situation carefully and work with states to control people with animal exposures.” The main focus of the CDC website is H5N1, but the agency is controlled by H5 viruses to see his flu care systems in the case of humans.
From 18 JanuaryThere is no evidence of H5 flu infrope that does not extend from one human being to another in the US
“The H5N9 combination is not a new version and other versions, there is also H5N5” Florian KrammerProfessor of Vacinology at the Ichn School of Mount Sinai Mountain in New York CBS told the news. “Because that was detected, he doesn’t necessarily mean problems,” he stressed.
Copyright 2025 LivecienceFuture business. All rights reserved This material may be published, broadcast, rewrite, or redistributed.