New outbreak of deadly bird flu strain confirmed for first time in 8 years | 20 March 2025 | new bird flu outbreak has been confirmed as the virus continues to spread across the U.S. 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.