Some wildlife disease experts warn against jumping to easy conclusions.
A low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus of the H7N3 subtype has hit a commercial turkey farm in California's Central Valley, causing only mild illness in the birds, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
A backyard flock of chickens and ducks within the Kansas City metropolitan area had to be destroyed.
Twelve more H5N1 avian influenza infections have been reported from Egypt over the past 5 days, according to translated governorate health department reports and a batch of notifications today from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The US flu season continues to overstay its annual visit, with influenza B detections rising and overall levels remaining elevated for the 16th week in a row, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today. The previous 13 flu seasons have lasted an average of 13 weeks.
Also, US officials say H5N2 viruses in Missouri, Arkansas, and Minnesota match one from a wild bird in Washington state.
The WHO shared China's latest big-picture view of recent H7N9 cases, while researchers found clues for a possible virus vector.
An analysis of viruses from the second wave of H7N9 avian flu in China that began in late 2013 shows a rapid expansion both geographically and in genetic diversity, which poses a challenge to disease control and demonstrates the potential of H7N9 to emerge as a pandemic strain in humans, according to a study summarized in a letter to Naturetoday.
The outbreak marks the 4th affected farm and the 3rd state in the central US hit by H5N2 in the past week.
Also, the USDA says the Minnesota H5N2 strain matches a Washington isolate.
