September 13, 2012

Mexico culls 23 million birds while immunising 140 million more

In an effort to control an avian flu outbreak in Mexico, about 22.3 million birds are culled between June and August 2012.

No new cases have been reported in three weeks.

Mexico's National Food Health, Safety and Quality Service (Senasica) said poultry farmers also immunised 140 million birds. Farms are being restocked at a rate of 4.5 million to five million birds per month, which is expected to increase egg production to roughly 2,700 tonnes per day.

Senasica detected the highly pathogenic H7N3 virus at 33 of 253 chicken farms in the western state of Jalisco during inspections in late June. Another 82 farms were free of the virus, and diagnostic tests are being conducted at the remaining 138 facilities, according to Senasica. The virus was first uncovered in Jalisco on June 20. Mexico's government issued a national animal health emergency on July 2.