Under new rules, poultry facilities seeking indemnity payments after repeated bird flu infections must show biosecurity precautions

The United States has reported its first outbreak of H5N9 bird flu on a duck farm in California, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) on Monday. H5N9 is a rare subtype of the influenza A virus that can cause highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI),

This latest outbreak is part of a broader epizootic that has swept across the United States, affecting not only poultry but also wild birds, mammals and humans.

Scientists say the temporary freeze on communications from federal officials creates a troubling blind spot for those tracking the virus.