New outbreak of deadly bird flu strain confirmed for first time in 8 years

The deadly H7N9 strain was detected on a poultry farm in Noxubee, Mississippi, last week, for the first time since 2017.

The infection of 47,654 commercial broiler-breeder chickens was confirmed on March 13 by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Samples of the flock were tested at the Mississippi Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Laboratory and came back positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, the State of Mississippi Board of Animal Health announced in a press release on March 12.

None of the birds from the flock have entered the food system, according to the Mississippi board.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has caused the most damage to poultry in recent years, as well as the death of one person, although H7N9 has had a "high death rate for humans worldwide," according to Reuters.

Neither of the two forms of bird flu have been found to transmit easily from person to person.

Although cases of bird flu have continued to rise in recent weeks, WebMD CEO and practicing physician Dr. John Whyte recently told Fox News Digital that there shouldn't be too much concern.

"You definitely want to cook poultry, and you definitely want to make sure you cook eggs, typically at an internal temperature of about 165 degrees," he advised. "But you don't want to be eating runny eggs right now."