A new case of bird flu was discovered in Ecuador, more precisely in a yard in the province of Tungurahua, announced this Friday afternoon, December 8, the Agency for Health Regulation and Control of Phyto-Zoo Gardens (Agrocalidad).

However, unlike previous cases in which the infected birds discovered were chickens, this time it was a duck, the agency stated, emphasizing that the discovery of the sick bird was the result of the control carried out by its technicians in the territory.

New cases of bird flu have been detected in Ecuador, but in wild birds

Agrocalidad reported that containment measures are being taken and that support is being provided at the site.

Likewise, he explained that the bird flu epidemics reported in the region are the result of a migratory wave of birds passing through Latin America and the Caribbean in the last months of the year.

“We recommend that the chain of the poultry sector take extreme biosecurity measures and adhere to the vaccination scheme to prevent infections,” urged the agency, which reminded that bird protection nets must be installed, tools and equipment must be disinfected and that entry the person visited should prevent other farms.

By mid-November, 13.6 million birds had been immunized, according to data from Agrocalidad.

In May last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock assured that the disease has been suppressed and pointed this out at the 90th general session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organization for Animal Health, at a meeting held in Paris. On that occasion, former minister Eduardo Izaguirre pointed out that 6.3 million birds were vaccinated with an investment of more than 2.7 million dollars to combat the outbreak of the disease.

Three birds in the Galapagos have preliminarily tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza

From November 2022, when the first outbreak was detected, to February 2023, avian influenza affected 1,193,491 farm birds in five counties in the Sierra region, most of which were dedicated to egg production.