June 28, 2012

Mexican farms face serious bird flu threat

Three Mexican commercial poultry farms in the state of Jalisco have been found with strains of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), according to a report submitted to the OIE.

In total over one million birds have been found susceptible across the three farms with over 200,000 deaths and 60,000 birds have been destroyed.

According to the report, clinical signs were determined on June 13. The birds, aged 32, 72, 75, 84 and 94 weeks old showed signs of gasping, depression, lethargy, drooping wings, prostration, fever and death. Epidemiological investigation is on-going to establish the extent of the problem and the source of infection, in order to implement additional measures to rapidly resolve the problem. The source of the outbreak or origin of infection is as yet unknown.

Officials have also limited poultry movements near the outbreak area and are testing birds at commercial farms, backyard flocks, and poultry markets. They are also assessing biosecurity practices and overseeing depopulation efforts at the affected farms, according to the OIE report.

Jalisco state, in western Mexico, is the country's top egg producer.