Avian Influenza outbreak in Mexico

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported on three farms in Mexican state of Jalisco, the World Organisation for Animal Health has confirmed.

The disease was first found on 13 June and was later confirmed by officials on 21 June.

Jalisco is Mexico’s highest egg producing region, with over 500 production units.

In total over one million birds are believed to be susceptible across the three farms and over 200,000 have already died from the outbreak. A further 60,000 have been destroyed.

Sixty poultry farms within the area of the outbreaks have been sampled in order to determine their health status and officials are in the process of establishing control measures to prevent further spread.

An epidemiological investigation is now under way to identify the source of infection.