Ever since 1994, Mexico has had highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) within its territory and poultry industry. It was first H5N2, then H7N3 and now H5N1. Initially with high mortality rates, culled birds and decreased egg production, the country has been fighting and adapting to something that many other countries do not accept.
Dr. Fernando Navarro, director of Hy-Line in Mexico, just gave an exceptionally good webinar on the experience of Mexico with HPAI organized by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association. The more than 600 attendants overloaded Navarro with questions.
From all the clear explanations and examples the Hy-Line professional gave, I would like to emphasize some of the positive aspects.
First, it must be pointed out that Mexico does not have any governmental programs to aid affected producers that have lost their flocks. So, vaccination against HPAI has become part of the routine. Notwithstanding, producers are aware that the vaccine does not prevent the disease. At the beginning, this had a positive impact by dramatically reducing mortality from 80-95% to 8-15%. Nowadays, with recombinant vaccines (HVT or Pox vector), mortality is reduced to 2-4% during an outbreak.
Today, compared to the 2012 outbreak, Navarro said that awareness in every sector of the Mexican poultry industry is higher and reports of the disease to the authorities are done immediately. Diagnosis ability is faster than 10 years ago, and local contingency funds have been created by poultry producer groups.
Control strategy has also changed. For instance, the whole flock is sacrificed and buried, together with byproducts (eggs, manure, etc.). PCR tests are required to sell eggs and send birds to processing plants, and now there is a veterinarian in each facility responsible for authorizing moving birds and products. A perifocal area vaccination is done, to generate a buffer area.
In terms of biosecurity, an especially important thing are the changes in processing and transportation of poultry manure, among many other measures.
Long story short – the Mexican poultry industry keeps on growing together with avian flu.
What do you think?
Avian flu lessons learned by Mexican poultry producers – WATTAgNet Industry News & Trends
