Avian influenza in Mexico and the USA
Mexico recently experienced its first case of the highly infectious H5N1 avian influenza within a farm this season, marking a stark contrast to its previous declaration of being free from the disease just a month before. The outbreak, identified in the northwestern state of Sorona, resulted in mortality of 15,000 laying hens out of a flock totaling 90,000, prompting the culling of the remaining birds. On the other hand, the United States has encountered multiple instances of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in both commercial and outdoor flocks across seven different states in recent days. The outbreaks have impacted commercial broiler farms in Alabama and Arkansas, turkey farms in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, as well as backyard flocks in Oklahoma and Tennessee. In the last 30 days alone, fifteen states have grappled with these outbreaks, affecting approximately 1.36 million birds. Since the initial appearance of the H5N1 strain in US poultry in early 2022, a staggering 60.23 million birds have been affected across the country. Mexico has been proactive in incorporating AI vaccines as part of its strategy to combat avian influenza, a measure distinct from the approach taken by the US, which has thus far refrained from integrating vaccines as a preventive measure.
