Nearly one year after poultry in Argentina was declared free of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, it is now reported that wild birds in the country are also free of the virus.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) issued a report on August 6, stating that the H5N1 situation in non-poultry birds had been “resolved.”
Between July 28, 2023, and August 6, 2023, Argentina reported 748 H5N1-related wild bird deaths, with those species including kelp gull, Chilean flamingo, South American tern, gull-billed tern and imperial shag. A year later, the H5N1 HPAI-free declaration was made.
“To date, Argentina has no HPAI outbreaks and maintains active and passive surveillance activities throughout the national territory,” the WOAH report stated.
This H5N1-free declaration follows a similar declaration made in September 2023, when the H5N1 HPAI situation in Argentinian poultry was deemed resolved. Between February 2023 and April 2023, the country had lost more than 2.2 million head of poultry. Infected operations included 13 layer farms, three breeder farms and two broiler farms.
While the WOAH has closed its reports on H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks, it still has an open report on untyped H5 HPAI infections in what it refers to as unusual host species in Argentina. Between August and October 2023, 1,881 HPAI-related animal deaths were reported in South American fur seals, South American terns, South American sea lions and southern elephant seals. However, WOAH has not issued any new reports on the matter since October 28, 2023.
