With a new update from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) comes more cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in South America – in this case, Chile and Argentina.
Avian flu in Chile
An HPAI outbreak at a broiler breeder farm on March 10 in Rubiana 1, Comuna de Rancagua, which resulted in the deaths of over 41,000 birds, has been resolved, according to the WOAH.
In central Chile, just north of Santiago, an HPAI outbreak was reported at a 12-week-old male fattening turkey farm in the city of Hijuelas on April 16. Forty-six birds died of the disease before the remaining 38,701 were culled by health officials.
The origin of the outbreak is unknown.
Avian flu in Argentina
Two backyard flocks on the eastern coast of Argentina reported HPAI outbreaks on April 11 and 16.
The first was a flock of 43 hens, ducks and turkeys in Puerto Madryn, of which 38 died of HPAI and the last five were culled. Health officials implemented the stamping out and disinfection process.
The second – a flock of hens, geese, turkeys and ducks in Viedma – reported 158 deaths. The number of additional birds culled is unknown.
Argentina also reported a case of HPAI in three black-necked swans and a fourth unidentified wild bird in Sarmiento on April 17 – all four birds were dead.
Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.
