New case of bird flu is detected in Cotopaxi, but authorities assure that it is contained

A new case of bird flu was registered in Ecuador, in the province of Cotopaxi, in the same area where the first case of the virus was detected last week of November.

This was reported this Thursday, December 15, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency (Agrocalidad).

Faced with speculation and fear of shortages of eggs due to bird flu, the poultry industry assured that production has not been affected

Patricio Almeida, executive director of Agrocalidad, assured that the new one, which was detected in the area that includes the epidemiological fence built to contain the disease, is contained. This, as a result of the measures established in the animal health emergency declaration, among which are constant monitoring in the focus and perifocus areas where the presence of this disease was reported, at the end of November.

“But still we did not let our guard down. We are vigilant, because avian influenza has also been detected in Canada, Colombia, the United States, Mexico and Peru”, warned Almeida.

These outbreaks in the region triggered the alerts of the countries of the Andean community, which last week, together with the member countries of the Permanent Veterinary Committee of the Southern Cone (CVP), issued a joint declaration regarding the risk that this disease represents for poultry farming. , food security and public health in the subregions.

“Considering that highly pathogenic avian influenza is an infectious, highly transmissible, transboundary viral disease that affects both wild and domestic birds, characterized by high mortality and that generates significant direct and indirect losses in the production chain and poultry supply and which constitutes a barrier to international trade, it is necessary to reinforce surveillance actions in member countries, either to prevent the entry of the disease and/or control measures to prevent its spread to free territories of it”, indicates part of the document issued by both blocks.

Avian flu outbreaks set off alarm bells in countries in the region that issued a joint statement

Meanwhile, regarding the supply of chicken meat and eggs, the executive director of Agrocalidad assured that it is maintained and reminded the public that it can be consumed normally.

Given the presence of avian influenza, on November 29, the MAG issued the declaration of animal health emergency, through Ministerial Agreement 134, which will be in force for 90 days.

In the first affected property, the MAG ordered the slaughter of some 180,000 birds from said property in a rural parish in the Latacunga canton, complying with the biosecurity and animal welfare parameters defined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA). However, in this second case the authority has not referred to the slaughter of more affected birds. (YO)