Two new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed in Ecuador.
One of those is a commercial layer flock in Antonio Jose Holguin, while the other was a backyard flock in Juan Montalvo, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
In the layer flock, an increase in mortality was noticed, with 16,814 of a total 41,010 birds dead. Tests done on samples from the flock proved positive for an H5N1 variant of HPAI.
The remaining 24,282 birds present were euthanized. Other control measures put in place included quarantine, disinfection, movement control, screening, traceability, and surveillance both inside and outside of the control zone.
The backyard flock affected involved 91 birds, five of which had died prior to the farm being a confirmed case of HPAI. This flock included native poultry. The same control measures used in the layer operation were also used on this farm.
HPAI was first confirmed in Ecuador in November 2022 at an egg laying operation in Chaguana. Since that time, the South American country has had a total of 24 confirmed cases. Of those, 10 involved commercial laying operations.
To date, Ecuador has lost 1,252,199 birds to HPAI.
