Influenza A virus subtype H5N9

H5N9 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). Wild aquatic birds are the primary host of the influenza A virus, which is enzootic (continually present) in many bird populations.[1][2]

Outbreaks

A highly pathogenic strain of H5N9 caused an outbreak in 1966 in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada in turkeys, resulting in the slaughter of approximately 8,000 birds.[3][4]

In 1999 an H5 influenza A virus was isolated from a mallard in the Netherlands.[5]

In 2008 An H5N9 virus was isolated from poultry in Aomori, Japan.[6]

In December 2015 an H5N9 virus infected a flock of 500 ducks raised for fatty liver production experienced a 5% mortality in Arrosès, France.[7]

In 2025 another highly pathogenic strain caused an outbreak in a duck farm in Merced County, California, forcing the culling of over 118,000 ducks. This strain may have arisen from recombination of H5N1 from the current 2020–2025 H5N1 outbreak and a subtype bearing N9.[8]

Sources

  1. Li YT, Linster M, Mendenhall IH, Su YC, Smith GJ (December 2019). "Avian influenza viruses in humans: lessons from past outbreaks". British Medical Bulletin. 132 (1): 81–95. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldz036. PMC 6992886. PMID 31848585.
  2. Joseph U, Su YC, Vijaykrishna D, Smith GJ (January 2017). "The ecology and adaptive evolution of influenza A interspecies transmission". Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. 11 (1): 74–84. doi:10.1111/irv.12412. PMC 5155642. PMID 27426214.
  3. "WHO". Archived from the original on March 7, 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2006.
  4. Lang, G; Narayan, O; Rouse, B T; Ferguson, A E; Connell, M C (July 1968). "A new influenza A virus infection in turkeys II. A highly pathogenic variant, a/turkey/ontario 772/66". The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 9 (7): 151–160. ISSN 0008-5286. PMC 1697254. PMID 5690802.
  5. Munster, V. J.; Wallensten, A.; Baas, C.; Rimmelzwaan, G. F.; Schutten, M.; Olsen, B.; Osterhaus, A. D.; Fouchier, R. A. (October 2005). "Mallards and highly pathogenic avian influenza ancestral viruses, northern Europe". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 11 (10): 1545–1551. doi:10.3201/eid1110.050546. PMC 3366752. PMID 16318694.
  6. Yu, Yang; Wang, Xingbo; Jin, Tao; Wang, Hailong; Si, Weiying; Yang, Hui; Wu, Jiusheng; Yan, Yan; Liu, Guang; Sang, Xiaoyu; Wu, Xiaopeng; Gao, Yuwei; Xia, Xianzhu; Yu, Xinfen; Pan, Jingcao (August 3, 2015). "Newly Emergent Highly Pathogenic H5N9 Subtype Avian Influenza A Virus". Journal of Virology. 89 (17): 8806–8815. doi:10.1128/jvi.00653-15. PMC 4524050. PMID 26085150.
  7. "Studies on fatty liver production from aged geese and ducks. II, fatty acid composition of liver and some chemical aspects". Egyptian Journal of Animal Production. 23 (1): 113–118. January 1, 1983. doi:10.21608/ejap.1983.131536. ISSN 2735-3028.
  8. Cooke, Emily (February 3, 2025). "US reports 1st outbreak of 'highly pathogenic' H5N9 virus in poultry. Should we worry?". LiveScience. New York: Future US, Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2025.