Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in five more commercial poultry flocks in Bolivia.
According to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) four of the affected flocks were part of commercial layer operations while the other was described as “commercial fattening poultry.”
Two of the affected layer operations were in Sacaba, the same municipality where Boliva’s first HPAI case in commercial poultry was confirmed. In one of the more recent cases, 2,200 of a total 18,000 susceptible hens died after contracting the virus. In the other case, 1,800 of a total 26,000 birds died.
The other two layer flocks were in Quillacollo. In one case, there were 31,500 susceptible hens, of which 19,800 died. In the other flock, 1,000 of 8,200 susceptible birds died.
The other commercial poultry flock, which was in Capinota, included 4,500 birds. Of those, 500 died.
In each of these cases, the remaining birds were depopulated and disposed of.
In addition to these five commercial cases of HPAI, WOAH reported eight case of HPAI in backyard flocks.
WOAH, in its epidemiological comments concerning these cases, stated: “A containment zone has been established so that it circumscribes the affected municipalities where the high rate of contact between farms, backyard poultry and wild birds plays a role in the disease event epidemiology. The official veterinary service and poultry producers are working to manage these risk factors, mainly by strengthening epidemiological surveillance and biosecurity in relation to wild birds and informal movements. Community fairs in the containment zone have been banned for the duration of the disease event. Movements of any type of live birds to other departments of the country is not allowed and health barriers have been installed in neighboring departments.”
To date, Bolivia has lost 230,914 birds – both commercial and backyard – to HPAI.
Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.
