The CDC is working with both federal and local health agencies to mitigate any possible health risks associated with a recent outbreak of avian influenza on a chicken farm in Lincoln County, Tenn.
The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the outbreak Sunday. Health officials have since culled poultry on the farm, which produces chickens for Tyson Foods, and initiated quarantines on surrounding chicken farms. In addition to the USDA, the CDC is working with Tennessee Department of Health to control the outbreak.
"CDC considers the risk to the public's health from this North American H7N9 virus outbreak in commercial poultry to be low," said the agency in a media statement. "In the past, there have only been a small number (fewer than 10 in 15 years) of reported human infections with North American avian influenza A H7 viruses. Most were associated with poultry exposure and have resulted in mild respiratory illness and/or conjunctivitis."
Early symptoms of H7N9 are similar to those of seasonal flu. However, the virus often develops into pneumonia. The avian flu strain is one of several monitored by the CDC due its potential to cause a human pandemic.
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