Avian flu has dominated the news, and this issue has been turning things around in the last few days, impacting production and trade. But there is one event I want to talk about. Ten days ago, my friend Juana Galván, retired as the general director of the Latin American Poultry Association (ALA).

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continue to pop up at commercial and backyard flocks all over South America with some of the most recent reports coming out of Chile, Argentina and Ecuador, according to the World Organization for Animal Health.

Avian flu seems overwhelming. Disease among birds, either wild, backyard or commercial, is spreading. The last few days have been particularly stressful for the industry in Latin America.

Avian influenza and BSE are causing problems for Argentina and Brazil in export markets.

Tens of thousands of birds were culled after highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected at four farms in Peru – one in Chepen, two in Panamericana Sur and one in Localidad de Atusparia, according to reports from the World Organization for Animal Health.

2023 will see Brazil working on the production of cultivated chicken breast to complement traditional local production.

This past week has been quite heavy in news about avian flu in Latin America. Uruguay reported one case on a black neck swam in the wild; then Guatemala reported cases in marine wild birds. The aftermath was then felt in neighboring Argentina – first in wild birds and then in backyard turkeys. And let us remember that Argentina is the fourth largest industry in the region.

Four new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Ecuador, including one commercial egg laying operation, are identified in a new report from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Avian influenza has infected a human in Latin America for the first time as ever more species appear susceptible to the virus.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to spread through Latin America, with confirmed cases in the South American nation of Argentina and the Central American country of Guatemala.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in five more commercial poultry flocks in Bolivia.

Everybody loves gossiping and speculating without having all of the information. I guess it is part of human nature. A few weeks ago, the rumor was that Mexican eggs were illegally crossing the border to the U.S. because of the high egg prices. The National Poultry Producers Association of Mexico (Unión Nacional de Avicultores – UNA) has been clear and straight forward in providing information: