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Friday, June 29, 2012

Mexico detects 1.7 million birds affected by avian flu outbreak

Organización Editorial Mexicana
June 29, 2012

AFP

Mexico. - Mexico has identified 1.7 million birds infected with the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu now affecting 10 farms in the state of Jalisco, which have been isolated, said Friday the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, fisheries and Food (SAGARPA).

"The medical device applied in farms and backyards includes a flock of 6 million 120 thousand 500 birds, which was detected 1 million 700 thousand affected," the agency said in a statement, adding that the animals had 870 000 died from the disease or were slaughtered.

The ministry announced that it had activated a national emergency device in the region of Jalisco called Los Altos, where the farms affected by the virus, subtype H7N3.

In this device have been checked 111 farms and 15 domestic manufacturing facilities and had detected the virus in 10 of the farms.

Mexico said it has already reported the situation to the international animal health organizations, including United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FA0), which indicated that the outbreak was highly pathogenic.

The measures outlined in the statement, have been taken to protect poultry production in the area, Jalisco is the largest egg producer in Mexico, as the "H7N3 influenza virus does not pose a risk to the consumption of poultry ".http://www.oem.com.mx/laprensa/notas/n2599428.htm