Mexico reports its first H5N1 bird flu case
Mexico reports its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza. Mexican authorities urge Mexican poultry producers to take their biosecurity measures extremely serious, and urge those farms close to migratory bird routes to take additional measures.
First case
Mexico has reported a first case of the severe H5N1 strain of avian influenza, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Friday. The virus was detected in a wild migratory bird in the Metepec district to the west of the capital Mexico City, the WOAH said, citing information from the Mexican authorities.
Biosecurity measures
Mexican poultry producers were urged by Mexico’s plant and animal health authority SENASICA to step up their biosecurity measures and to immediately notify the authorities of any suspected case in their farms, according to Mexico’s poultry association UNA.
Migrant water birds play an important role in the spread of the avian influenza virus, especially the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, according to a letter by SENASICA to UNA, requiring farms that are located close to wetlands where the migratory birds arrive, to take such additional measures as water control, bird nets, additional controls at the farms’ entrance, and strict hygiene measures for farm workers that enter and leave the farm.