Infectious Diseases 2023

As of epidemiological week (EW) 1 of 2023, agricultural authorities in Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the United Stated of America, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela have detected outbreaks of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in domestic birds, farm poultry, and/or wild birds. The detection of HPAI outbreaks in eight countries in Latin America and the Caribbean is a situation never recorded.
To date, there have been two human infections caused by avian influenza A(H5), the first in the United States of America in which the subtype A(H5N1) was identified and reported on 29 April 2022 and the second in Ecuador, which was notified on 9 January 2023.
In Canada, as of 7 January 2023, multiple HPAI A(H5N1) outbreaks in poultry and non-poultry birds (including wild birds) were reported in nine of the ten provinces of this country. The outbreaks identified during EW 1 of 2023, occurred in the province of British Columbia.
In Chile, until 6 January 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture of this country, detected the presence of A(H5N1) HPAI cases in wild aquatic birds - pelicans. To date, there has been no involvement of backyard and poultry birds.
In Colombia, between 19 October and 21 December 2022, the Colombian Agricultural Institute, identified 39 HPAI A(H5N1) outbreaks. The outbreaks have been identified in backyard birds that had contact with wild birds traveling along the migratory routes to the south of the continent.
In Ecuador, until 9 January 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of the country detected three outbreaks of avian influenza. Two in poultry production farms, the first in November 2022, and the second identified in January 2023. The third outbreak was identified during the first week of January in the province of Bolívar in backyard birds.
On 7 January 2023, a human infection caused by influenza A(H5) was identified in Ecuador in a 9-year-old female.
In Honduras, on 4 January 2023, the National Service of Agrifood Health and Safety, reported on the identification of avian influenza A(H5N1) in wild aquatic birds (pelicans). No cases have been reported among domestic or wild birds.
In Mexico, between October and December 2022, the National Service of Health, Safety and Food Quality identified HPAI A(H5N1) outbreaks in backyard birds, poultry farms and wild birds. As of 5 January 2023, outbreaks have affected a total of 5.5 million birds, mostly laying, from 23 commercial poultry production units.
In Panama, on 20 December 2022, the Ministry of Agricultural Development of Panama confirmed the detection of HPAI A(H5N1) in a pelican found 32 kilometers from Panama City, on the Coast of the Pearl Archipelago in the Gulf of Panama. So far, there has been no involvement of backyard and poultry birds.
In Peru, as of 16 December 2022, several outbreaks of HPAI A(N5) were identified in wild aquatic birds (pelicans), and 9 outbreaks of influenza A(H5N1) in domestic poultry.
In the USA, since late 2021 through 10 January 2023, outbreaks of HPAI A(H5) virus have been reported in wild waterfowl, commercial poultry, and backyard poultry. During this period, HPAI outbreaks have been reported in wild birds in 48 states and in poultry in 47 states. More than 57 million poultry were affected due to identified and controlled outbreaks.
On 28 April 2022, a case of Influenza A(H5N1) was identified in the United States in a person who participated in the culling of birds at a commercial poultry facility in Colorado, where influenza A(H5N1) virus was detected in birds.
In Venezuela, on 29 November 2022, the Ministry of Popular Power for Productive Agriculture and Land, through inspection and epidemiological surveillance activities, identified an outbreak of HPAI in pelicans in Puerto Piritu, in the west area of the state of Anzoátegui. Molecular studies detected Influenza A(H5) virus; this is the first time that HPAI has been detected in Venezuela.