This finding is the result of notifications from producers and is part of an epidemiological surveillance operation carried out by the National Service for Agricultural Food Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica) to protect the country’s chicken and egg production during the chicken and egg production season. From Wild bird migrations in the United States and Canada.
After receiving the notification, technicians from the General Directorate of Animal Health (DGSA) came to collect the corresponding samples and confirmed the presence of the virus based on tests performed at the Senasica Level 2 Biosafety Laboratory in Hermosillo, Sonora.
Immediately, technical staff from the Mexico-U.S. Commission for the Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Other Exotic Animal Diseases (CPA) began to implement corresponding epidemic prevention measures.
The DGSA announced the corresponding quarantine and started decontamination, cleaning and disinfection of the Poultry Production Unit (UPA), which has 54,000 laying hens of 122 weeks of age, which is the end of the production cycle.
The UPA is three kilometers away from the first farm where HPAI AH5 was diagnosed. The 90,000 birds at the farm have been eliminated and disinfection of the facility is currently underway.
The Ministry of Agriculture agency recalled that it is safe to eat chicken and eggs because farms affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza have been quarantined to prevent the transportation of their products. He noted that bird flu does not pose any risk to humans because sick animals are culled to prevent the spread of the virus.
The General Administration stated that in view of the flow of migratory birds this season, the epidemiological investigation work in Sonora State is still continuing, and epidemiological surveillance has been strengthened nationwide.
Senasica detailed that the main preventive measure is to adopt strict biosecurity measures on poultry farms, which is why it emphasizes advising commercial and domestic producers to take extreme precautions to protect the country’s poultry production.
He said there was a need to establish health protocols for people entering UPA; workers must take a shower before entering the farm, change from home clothes to work clothes and repeat the procedure when leaving the farm.
In addition, they must clean and disinfect all vehicles; use sanitary mats at the main entrance and in each chicken house, and inspect flocks daily to identify birds with suggestive clinical signs.
They must prevent access to people outside the UPA and strictly scrutinize their facilities to ensure there are no spaces where wild birds and pest animals can enter. All of these are a set of measures that make up the biosecurity practices that must be used to protect national poultry production.
To help protect the production of chicken and eggs, Senasica invites producers, veterinarians and the public to immediately report any suspicious situations they notice, for which Senasica provides the telephone number 800.751 2100 and the Avise app, iOS and Android.
In addition, they may report to the Minister of Agriculture, Senasica or CPA Coordination Office located in all states of the country.