Latest news with #H5N9
The Star
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Philippines confirms first case of H5N9 bird flu
MANILA: The Philippines has detected its first case of the H5N9 strain of bird flu, according to a report released Wednesday (May 7) by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). The infection was found in ducks from Camaligan, Camarines Sur, marking the latest strain of avian influenza to reach the country. The Department of Agriculture (DA), which oversees the BAI, confirmed that laboratory tests showed positive results for the highly pathogenic Type A Subtype H5N9 virus. Although the strain is known to spread rapidly and cause severe illness in birds, the DA stated that it poses only a low risk to humans unless there is prolonged and repeated exposure. First identified in the United States earlier this year, the H5N9 virus is believed to be a mutation of previously circulating bird flu strains. In the Philippines, local livestock have already been affected by other variants, including H5N1, H5N2, and H5N6. The last recorded outbreak occurred in January and involved the H5N2 strain in Camarines Norte, affecting 15 out of 428 backyard ducks, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. In response to the latest case, the BAI has rolled out immediate containment efforts in the Bicol Region. These include quarantine enforcement, culling of infected birds, heightened surveillance, and coordination with local government units and the Department of Health to monitor for any possible human transmission. The DA added that extended disease control measures are being carried out within a 1-kilometre and a 7-kilometre radius of the outbreak site. These include thorough cleaning and disinfection to curb further spread of the virus. As of April 25, avian influenza continues to affect four regions and eight provinces, including Kalinga, Benguet, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Bulacan, Laguna, and Manila. The Philippines first reported bird flu in 2005 during a global wave of poultry infections. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
United News of India
07-05-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Philippines reports 1st case of highly pathogenic avian flu strain
Manila, May 7 (UNI) The Philippine Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry on Wednesday said it confirmed the detection of the country's first case of "High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Type A Subtype H5N9" in Camarines Sur province, southeast of Manila. The bureau said in a statement that on April 30, its Animal Disease Diagnosis and Reference Laboratory reported positive results from duck samples collected during a routine surveillance. "Subtype H5N9, while highly pathogenic in birds, poses low risk to humans based on current global assessments," the statement said. Following the detection, the bureau said it promptly endorsed disease control measures to their regional office, including immediate quarantine, culling, surveillance, and coordination with local authorities. It also notified the Department of Health to monitor any potential human exposure. In coordination with local government units, the bureau said it will implement sustained disease control operations, including surveillance within 1 km and 7 km zones and thorough cleaning and disinfection of affected sites to prevent further spread. UNI XINHUA GNK
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio leaders should support farmers fighting bird flu
Bird flu, or H5N1, has disrupted the work of poultry farmers for years and began infecting dairy herds last year. (Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA) As a physician, I have been closely following our country's bird flu crisis. I am especially concerned about the recent revelation that someone from Mercer County has become the first person in Ohio to contract the virus, one of nearly 70 cases in the United States. To complicate matters further, a second type of bird flu has been detected in dairy cows in Nevada, and a new strain of the bird flu virus, H5N9, was found in California. These developments are precisely what many public health officials have been most concerned about as this means that bird flu is transforming in a way that could allow it to spread more easily in humans. For this reason, I was shocked to learn that the Trump administration accidentally fired 25% of the federal workers handling our country's bird flu response and are scrambling to try to correct the mistake. I also read the news that the new administration halted the release of public health information related to bird flu virus and studies that could help reduce its spread. I call on Ohio U.S. Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted to do what they can to see that efforts to fight bird flu are reinstated. Sen. Husted, in particular, should champion this effort given his appointment to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension, which is responsible for matters related to public health. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ohio has more birds affected by the virus than any other state. Ohio farmers need support; Sen. Husted should take decisive action to stop the spread of bird flu. Gov. DeWine seeking more federal support for Ohio flocks reeling from bird flu I support researchers at Ohio State working to find ways to curb the spread of the virus and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge, who is helping farmers adopt practices to keep the virus at bay. The reality is that washing hands, disinfecting equipment, and even exterminating millions of birds has not been enough. Now is the time to take a hard look at the food production system that puts farm workers in close contact with sick birds and cows, the Standard American Diet that demands it, and the health ramifications of both. Bird flu is raising concerns among Americans about the care and well-being of our food supply. A new Morning Consult survey shows that 86% of Americans surveyed would not drink milk if they knew it contained dead bird flu virus. The survey was conducted for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a public health nonprofit. Last spring, Ohio State University researchers found H5N1 viral RNA in 58 of 150 commercially available milk product samples from 10 states. These milk products were easily available on local grocery store shelves. Consumers are clear in this new survey that they do not want to consume cow's milk affected by bird flu virus, even if the milk is pasteurized and the risk of infection is low. What should consumers drink if they are worried about bird flu and want an alternative to cow's milk? SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Fortunately, nutritious plant-based milks, like oat milk and almond milk are prevalent and tasty. They are also safe for the majority of Latino Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans who are lactose intolerant. Almond milk is low in calories, high in vitamin E, and often fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Soy milk is full of isoflavones, which have been shown to reduce breast cancer risk, and has an amount of protein comparable to cow's milk. Oat milk has a creamy texture, may help lower cholesterol, and is often fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Other plant-based milk alternatives include rice milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, pea milk, and hemp milk. I am often asked by family members and friends how concerned they should be about the spread of the virus among backyard birds, pets, and people. While I wish I could put everyone's mind at ease, the reality is that our country has experienced the death of a patient who was stricken with bird flu. The virus has sickened dozens of people, decimated poultry populations, and infected dairy cows. Until we are able to stop the spread of bird flu, Ohio leaders should do what they can to protect consumers, help farmers keep bird flu at bay, and support crop farmers and businesses producing plant-based foods. Angela Eakin, MD, is a board-certified family physician and lifestyle medicine physician from Columbus. She is a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a public health nonprofit with more than 17,000 doctor members. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Reuters
21-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
On The Money: Why more Americans are worried about the economy
NEW YORK, Feb 21 (Reuters) - This was originally published in the Reuters On the Money newsletter, where we share U.S. personal-finance tips and insights every other week. Sign up here to receive it for free. How are you feeling financially these days? According to new research from Reuters, more Americans are worried about the U.S. economy, prompted by concerns about tariffs. The share of Americans who think the economy is on the wrong track rose to 53% in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll from 43% in the January 24-26 poll. And another survey shows that one in five Americans say they are purchasing more items than usual, reflecting heightened anxiety over potential price hikes and economic uncertainty. (Just writing this sentence takes me back to the early days of the COVID pandemic in March 2020, when supermarket shelves were bare.) Tariffs tend to spark inflation because they raise the cost of imported goods. As a result, businesses either absorb the higher expenses or pass them on to consumers through price increases. What are your thoughts about the economy and tariffs? Let me know at And if you are stocking up on anything in particular right now – such as maple syrup from Canada or tequila from Mexico – I want to hear about it. Why are eggs so expensive? If you are scrambling to find a carton of eggs these days, you are not alone. At my local Trader Joe's in Brooklyn, you could not find eggs last week. Shoppers across the U.S. face record egg prices, opens new tab, as well as purchasing limits, opens new tab, due to a tightening supply chain of eggs exacerbated by the ongoing avian influenza outbreak, which resulted in the death of millions of chickens across the country. Since the start of the bird flu outbreak in February 2022, more than 157 million, opens new tab birds in commercial and backyard flocks have been impacted by the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, as well as the less common H5N9. Millions of birds have been culled, opens new tab, leading to a shortage of eggs and driving up prices. The latest monthly consumer price index showed that the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, opens new tab, higher than the previous record of $4.82 set two years ago. At another grocery store closer to my home, a carton of organic eggs costs more than $14. The average price of a dozen large eggs increased by more than 50% in the past year nationwide. There were even bigger price hikes in some metropolitan areas. The rising cost of feed, particularly corn and soybeans, is also pushing egg prices higher. A severe drought in the Midwest, coupled with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is leading to a global shortage of these commodities. The cost of corn jumped by 20% in the past year, while soybean prices rose by more than 30%. Earlier this month, thieves stole about 100,000 organic eggs from a wholesaler's warehouse in Pennsylvania, a haul worth more than $40,000 retail amid a national shortage that has caused prices to surge. This Sunday I plan to head over to the local farmer's market early to buy a carton of eggs. I imagine the price will be high but at least they will be farm fresh. What's your experience purchasing eggs lately? Write to me at What I'm reading and watching Like what you're reading? Subscribe to On the Money here. Video of the week After two years of underperformance, international equity funds started 2025 with strength. Todd Rosenbluth from VettaFi says investors are feeling more comfortable with prospects outside of America despite the threat of tariffs. Watch his interview here. How to live with a roommate Finding a roommate to offset housing costs seems like a logical move at a young age. But it turns out more older Americans are looking for roommates, too. Some 6% of all live-in landlords who use the roommate-matching service SpareRoom, opens new tab are ages 65 and up and another 14% are ages 55-64, but these two age groups are the fastest-growing, according to Matt Hutchinson, director at, opens new tab SpareRoom. I asked Hutchinson some questions about finding a roommate at a mature age. This interview is edited and condensed. Q. How is living with a roommate different as you age? What tips do you have for making it work? A. This is certainly not true for everyone, but it can be the case that – as we get older – we grow more accustomed to our own way of living. It can be a daunting prospect to shake things up and share our living space with friends or strangers. It's important to remember there's no such thing as the perfect roommate, just your perfect roommate. Some people want to socialize together, some want a purely financial relationship and separate lives and most want something in the middle! Talking about that up front is always best. Similar expectations of what living together will be like are the simplest way to avoid issues once you actually do live together. We asked a bunch of homeowners who'd rented out a room for their advice on how to find the best roommate. Here is their list of It's interesting what people pick up on: Some judge potential roommates based on whether a person offers to take their shoes off at the front door or how well they get along with the dog. Q. What is the best way to handle chores, bills, etc.? A. Draw up a written agreement. In addition to rent, security deposit and insurance, it should also include house rules, opens new tab around things like guests, pets, noise, cleaning, smoking and use of shared spaces and facilities. Here are our tips on approaching cleaning with roommates, opens new tab. Similarly, bills can be a key sticking point. The same advice applies here: talk early and openly. Some homeowners will include bills with the rent, which can help their roommate budget better, others want to split the bills equally as they come in. Here is our guide to talking to roommates about money, opens new tab. A$K Lauren Are you wondering if you should rent out your home? Do you need a life insurance policy? Send your personal finance questions to Get a look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets with the Morning Bid U.S. newsletter. Sign up here.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nebraska's emphasis on intensive animal ag complicates bird flu fight
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is asking farmers and others to keep an eye on their flocks as avian influenza spreads. (Stock photo by) As a nursing instructor in Lincoln and Omaha, I have been following closely our country's bird flu crisis, and was saddened but not surprised to learn that our country experienced the death of its first patient from H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana. A new case of bird flu virus was just detected in a backyard flock in Saunders County, adjacent to Sarpy County where I live. To help protect workers from the virus, a bill has just been introduced in Lincoln, which is a helpful preventive step. This is particularly important right now as a new strain of the virus, H5N9, has been detected in California, which means that bird flu is transforming in a way that could allow it to spread more easily in humans. My colleagues and I are watchful for symptoms of bird flu as our state has the sad distinction of being among the top five states in the Midwest with the highest number of birds affected by bird flu virus. Hopefully our vigilance will help ensure that Nebraska does not join the list of states in which more than 65 human cases of bird flu have been detected. Tragically, this virus has sickened dozens of people, decimated poultry populations, and infected dairy cows. Thankfully, our state is doing a good job of monitoring for the virus. But now is the time to look closely at the food production system that puts farm workers in close contact with sick birds and cows, the standard American diet that demands it and the health ramifications of both. From a health professional's perspective, shifting food production away from intensive animal agriculture can benefit public health. Facilities with large numbers of animals in a small amount of space are a concern for public health because they provide ideal conditions for viruses to spread, evolve, and possibly acquire the ability to infect people more easily. Intensive animal agriculture was implicated when influenza viruses H1N1, H5N1, and N7N9 jumped from animals to people, according to research published in Frontiers in Microbiology. Nebraska is among the top 16 egg-producing states. The life of egg farmers and contract chicken growers can be challenging, and some of them are repurposing their chicken houses to grow crops. North Carolina poultry farmers Dale and Paula Boles switched from chickens, converted their 500-foot-long poultry barn to a greenhouse and now grow organic vegetables. They are not alone. In Southwest Arkansas, farmers Jennifer and Rodney Barrett are transitioning from raising poultry and cattle to growing mushrooms. These farm transitions aren't easy. The government should provide financial and technical support. Nebraska could help its farmers with a program like the one established by lawmakers in Vermont who provide grants to farmers who wish to diversify or transition from one type of farming to another. On a broader scale, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has introduced legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants to livestock farmers to pay off related debt and transition the property to alternative agriculture activities. If legislation like this is introduced again this year, U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., should support it. With its vast prairies and farmland, Nebraska is full of opportunity for egg and poultry farmers who want to transition to crops or orchards. Plant-based foods grown here can help people improve heart health, prevent diabetes and maintain a healthy weight, among other benefits. In fact, Nebraska is already a top producer of dry edible beans, which are high in protein as well as micronutrients like potassium, magnesium, folate, iron and zinc. Though we are the Cornhuskers, leafy greens, tomatoes, asparagus, raspberries, and carrots, to name just a few, also provide farmers with opportunities for income. Shifting away from animal agriculture helps our environment and improves worker safety as well. Large-scale poultry operations produce huge amounts of waste and contribute to waterways overloaded with phosphorous and other pollutants. Poultry farms are a primary source of water, air, and land pollution. I have found for myself and my patients that removing animal products from the diet significantly improves health, and the scientific literature tells the same story. A recent study with 22 pairs of identical twins found that a plant-based diet improves heart health in as little as eight weeks. The twins following a plant-based diet experienced lower LDL, or 'bad' cholesterol, and they lost more weight than the omnivore twins. Government grants and other assistance should be available if Nebraska poultry farmers or egg producers would like to switch to growing crops, which also would benefit human health and the environment. Cody Stubbe, RN, MSN, is a nursing instructor in Nebraska. She teaches healthy nutrition and is a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a public health advocacy nonprofit.
