Argentina free of bird flu again
Affected by the epidemic, Argentina’s chicken export volume shrank by 28% in the first quarter, and the value shrank by 35%
The South American country is once again free of bird flu, the National Service of Sanitation and Quality of Agricultural Products (Senasa) announced on Tuesday, Buenos Aires reported.
Of the 18 outbreaks detected in commercial establishments, the last was contained six months after the first case was detected, the agency said in a report to the OIE.
The Department of Agriculture reports that the health action against a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (commonly known as “bird flu”) in poultry has come to an end, with the last of 18 outbreaks detected in commercial establishments.
“The National Service of Agri-Food Hygiene and Quality (Senasa) submitted to the OIE this document with a self-declaration that recognizes and maintains the status of Argentina as a country free of the disease,” said the Minister of Agriculture. Minister Juan Jose Bajillo.
The document prepared by the Senasa National Animal Health Agency (DNSA) describes the measures taken since the first outbreak was confirmed in February 2023, the slaughter and disinfection operations and the epidemiological surveillance carried out, which guarantee the status of the free state.
However, the state of health emergency remains in effect through nationwide epidemiological surveillance and prevention tasks. According to Senasa Resolution No. 153/2021, avian influenza is a notifiable infectious disease. Anyone who observes death, neurological, digestive and/or respiratory symptoms in wild or poultry can notify the agency.
In 2020, a new strain of H5N1 avian influenza virus was detected and spread rapidly among wild birds and poultry, infecting other animals such as mink and sea lions in the process.
Argentina’s first case was registered on February 15 this year, when Bashiro confirmed the detection of the H5N1 virus in a wild migratory bird found in Jujuy province. A state of health emergency was declared at the time, and since then Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe, São Luis, Neuquen, Rionegro, Santiago del Estero, Chaco “Positive” cases in birds have soared in the provinces of San Francisco, Salta and Jujuy. According to Senasa, the province of Córdoba has the highest number of outbreaks, followed by the provinces of Buenos Aires and Neuquen.
The spread of the virus has also affected poultry in industrial enterprises, leading Argentina to suspend exports of poultry production on February 28. About a month later, after confirming compliance with international standards, export activity resumed. Affected by the epidemic, Argentina’s chicken export volume fell by 28% in the first quarter of this year, and the export value fell by 35%.
Roberto Domenech, president of the Center of Poultry Processing Companies (CEPA), said the outbreak had cost millions of dollars in addition to “significant impacts on the layer business”.In Rionegro, 630,000 chickens were slaughtered, he added