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Argentina announced its first commercial outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) resulting in a suspension of all avian product exports, according to Reuters.
After reporting a mortality rate of 17%, a broiler farm in Mainqué, Río Negro, Argentina, tested positive for HPAI type A subtype H5, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
Once Argentina’s National Food Safety and Quality Service (SENASA) confirmed the presence of HPAI, officials began to carry out outbreak control actions on March 1.
9,000 birds had already died of HPAI, and the remaining 181,000 were culled.
It is unknown what the source of the outbreak was.
In other avian flu news
Adding to the increasing number of mammals with HPAI, a South-American sea lion in La Rinconadaz, Chile, tested positive for the disease, according to WOAH.
Avian flu has also hit the sea lion population of Peru with a reported 716 sea lions dead, according to Reuters.
Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.
